1 Now listen to what the Lord is saying:

Rise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your complaint.  *

2 Listen 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.

3 My people,  * what have I done to you,  *

or how have I wearied you?  *

Testify against me!

4 Indeed, 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.

5 My 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.  *

6 What 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?

7 Would 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?

8 Mankind, 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.  *

9 The 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.  *

10 Are there still  * the treasures of wickedness  *

and the accursed short measure  *

in the house of the wicked?

11 Can I excuse wicked scales

or bags of deceptive weights?  *

12 For 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.  *

14 You 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.  *

15 You 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.  *

16 The 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."  *,*