God’s Lawsuit against Judah
1Now listen to what the Lord is saying:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your complaint.
2Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit,
you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,
because the Lord has a case against his people,
and he will argue it against Israel.
3My people, what have I done to you,
or how have I wearied you?
Testify against me!
4Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you from that place of slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam ahead of you.
5My people,
remember what King Balak of Moab proposed,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from the Acacia Grove to Gilgal
so that you may acknowledge
the Lord’s righteous acts.
6What should I bring before the Lord
when I come to bow before God on high?
Should I come before him with burnt offerings,
with year-old calves?
7Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams
or with ten thousand streams of oil?
Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the offspring of my body for my own sin?
8Mankind, he has told each of you what is good
and what it is the Lord requires of you:
to act justly,
to love faithfulness,
and to walk humbly with your God.
Verdict of Judgment
9The voice of the Lord calls out to the city
(and it is wise to fear your name):
“Pay attention to the rod
and the one who ordained it.
10Are there still the treasures of wickedness
and the accursed short measure
in the house of the wicked?
11Can I excuse wicked scales
or bags of deceptive weights?
12For the wealthy of the city are full of violence,
and its residents speak lies;
the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.
13“As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,
bringing desolation because of your sins.
14You will eat but not be satisfied,
for there will be hunger within you.
What you acquire, you cannot save,
and what you do save,
I will give to the sword.
15You will sow but not reap;
you will press olives
but not anoint yourself with oil;
and you will tread grapes
but not drink the wine.
16The statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab’s house
have been observed;
you have followed their policies.
Therefore, I will make you a desolate place
and the city’s residents an object of contempt;
you will bear the scorn of my people.”