Micah 6

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