1 Listen now to what Jehovah says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 Hear, you mountains, Jehovah’s controversy,

and you enduring foundations of the earth;

for Jehovah has a controversy with his people,

and he will contend with Israel.

3 My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdened you?

Answer me!

4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt,

and redeemed you out of the house of bondage.

I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised,

and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal,

that you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah.”

6 How shall I come before Jehovah,

and bow myself before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

7 Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams?

With tens of thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience?

The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good.

What does Jehovah require of you, but to act justly,

to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

9 Jehovah’s voice calls to the city,

and wisdom sees your name:

“Listen to the rod,

and he who appointed it.

10 Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked,

and a short ephah  that is accursed?

11 Shall I be pure with dishonest scales,

and with a bag of deceitful weights?

12 Her rich men are full of violence,

her inhabitants speak lies,

and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.

13 Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound.

I have made you desolate because of your sins.

14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied.

Your humiliation will be within you.

You will store up, but not save;

and that which you save I will give up to the sword.

15 You will sow, but won’t reap.

You will tread the olives, but won’t anoint yourself with oil;

and crush grapes, but won’t drink the wine.

16 For the statutes of Omri are kept,

and all the works of Ahab’s house.

You walk in their counsels,

that I may make you a ruin,

and her inhabitants a hissing;

and you will bear the reproach of my people.”