Micah 6
1Now listen to what Yahweh says, 1 “Arise and state your case before the mountains; 1 let the hills hear your voice. 1
2Listen to Yahweh's lawsuit, you mountains, 1 and you enduring foundations of the earth. 1 For Yahweh has a lawsuit with his people, 1 and he will fight in court against Israel.” 1
3“My people, what have I done to you? 1 How have I wearied you? 1 Testify against me! 1
4For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt 1 and rescued you out of the house of bondage. 1 I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to you. 1
5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, 1 and how Balaam son of Beor answered him 1 as you went from Shittim to Gilgal, 1 so you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.” 1
6What should I bring to Yahweh, 1 as I bow down to the high God? 1 Should I come to him with burnt offerings, 1 with calves a year old? 1
7Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, 1 or with ten thousand rivers of oil? 1 Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, 1 the fruit of my body for my own sin? 1
8He has told you, man, 1 what is good, 1 and what Yahweh requires from you: 1 Act justly, 1 love kindness, 1 and walk humbly with your God. 1
9The voice of Yahweh is making a proclamation to the city— 1 even now wisdom acknowledges your name: 1 “Pay attention to the rod, 1 and to the one who has put it in place. + 6:9 Instead of the Hebrew text's reading of Pay attention to the rod and to the one who has put it into place , some modern versions have Listen, tribe, and those assembled together in the city . 1
10There is wealth in the houses of the wicked that is dishonest, 1 and false measures that are abominable. 1
11Should I consider a person to be innocent if he uses fraudulent scales, 1 with a bag of deceptive weights? 1
12The rich men are full of violence, 1 the inhabitants have spoken lies, 1 and their tongue in their mouth is deceitful. 1
13Therefore I will strike you with a terrible blow, 1 and I will make you desolate because of your sins. 1
14You will eat but not be satisfied; 1 your emptiness will remain inside you. 1 You will store goods away but not save, 1 and what you do save I will give to the sword. + 6:14 Parts of this verse are difficult to understand, because there are two Hebrew words in it whose meanings are not known. As a result, various other readings have been proposed that some modern versions follow. 1
15You will sow but not reap; 1 you will tread the olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; 1 you will press grapes but drink no wine. 1
16The regulations made by Omri have been kept, 1 and all the deeds of the house of Ahab. 1 You walk by their advice. 1 So I will make you, city, a ruin, 1 and you inhabitants an object of hissing, 1 and you will bear the reproach of my people.” + 6:16 The Hebrew text has you will bear the reproach of my people , but an ancient Greek version has you will bear the scorn of the nations . Some modern versions follow this reading.