God’s Lawsuit against Judah
1 Now listen to what the Lord is saying:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your complaint. 6:1 Lit voice
2 Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit, 6:2 Is 3:13; Jr 2:9
you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, 6:2 2Sm 22:16; Ps 104:5
because the Lord has a case against his people, 6:2 Is 1:18; Hs 4:1; 12:2
and he will argue it against Israel.
3 My people, 6:3 Ps 50:7 what have I done to you, 6:3 Jr 2:5
or how have I wearied you? 6:3 Is 43:22–23
Testify against me!
4 Indeed, I brought you up 6:4 Ex 12:51; 20:2 from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you 6:4 Dt 7:8 from that place of slavery. 6:4 Ex 20:2
I sent Moses, 6:4 Ps 77:20 Aaron, and Miriam 6:4 Ex 15:20 ahead of you.
5 My people,
remember what King Balak of Moab 6:5 Nm 22:5–6 proposed,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him, 6:5 Nm 22–24
and what happened from the Acacia Grove 6:5 Or from Shittim, 6:5 Nm 25:1; Jos 2:1; 3:1 to Gilgal 6:5 Jos 4:19; 5:9–10
so that you may acknowledge
the Lord’s righteous acts. 6:5 1Sm 12:7; Ps 103:6; Is 1:27
6 What should I bring before the Lord 6:6 Ps 40:6–8
when I come to bow before God on high?
Should I come before him with burnt offerings, 6:6 Ps 51:16–17
with year-old calves?
7 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams 6:7 Ps 50:9; Is 40:16
or with ten thousand streams of oil?
Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, 6:7 Lv 18:21; 20:1–5; Jr 7:31
the offspring of my body for my own sin?
8 Mankind, he has told each of you what is good 6:8 Dt 30:15
and what it is the Lord requires of you: 6:8 Dt 10:12
to act justly, 6:8 Is 56:1; Jr 22:3; Mt 23:23
to love faithfulness, 6:8 Hs 6:6
and to walk humbly with your God. 6:8 Is 57:15; 66:2
Verdict of Judgment
9 The voice of the Lord calls out to the city 6:9 = Jerusalem
(and it is wise to fear your name):
"Pay attention to the rod
and the one who ordained it. 6:9 Or attention, you tribe. Who has ordained it?; Hb obscure
10 Are there still 6:10 Hb obscure the treasures of wickedness 6:10 Jr 5:26–27; Am 3:10
and the accursed short measure 6:10 Ezk 45:9–10; Am 8:5
in the house of the wicked?
11 Can I excuse wicked scales
or bags of deceptive weights? 6:11 Lv 19:36; Hs 12:7
12 For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, 6:12 Is 1:23; 5:7; Am 6:3–4; Mc 2:1–2
and its residents speak lies; 6:12 Jr 9:2–6,8; Hs 7:13; Am 2:4
the tongues in their mouths are deceitful. 6:12 Is 3:8
13 "As a result, I have begun to strike you severely, 6:13 LXX, Aq, Theod, Syr, Vg; MT reads I have made you sick by striking you down, 6:13 Mc 1:9
bringing desolation because of your sins. 6:13 Is 1:7; 6:11
14 You will eat but not be satisfied, 6:14 Is 9:20
for there will be hunger within you.
What you acquire, you cannot save, 6:14 Is 30:6
and what you do save,
I will give to the sword. 6:14 Hb obscure
15 You will sow but not reap; 6:15 Dt 28:38–40; Jr 12:13
you will press olives
but not anoint yourself with oil;
and you will tread grapes
but not drink the wine. 6:15 Am 5:11; Zph 1:13
16 The statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab’s house
have been observed;
you have followed their policies. 6:16 1Kg 16:25–34; 2Kg 21:3; 2Ch 21:6,13; Jr 7:24
Therefore, I will make you a desolate place 6:16 Jr 18:16
and the city’s 6:16 Lit and its residents an object of contempt; 6:16 Lit residents a hissing, 6:16 Jr 19:8; 25:9,18; 29:18
you will bear the scorn of my people." 6:16 LXX reads of the peoples, 6:16 Ps 44:13; Jr 51:51; Hs 12:14