1
Now hear that which YHWH is saying: “Rise—strive with the mountains, || And cause the hills to hear your voice.
2
Hear, O mountains, the strife of YHWH, || You strong ones—foundations of earth! For a strife [is] to YHWH, with His people, || And with Israel He reasons.
3
O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.
4
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, || And I have ransomed you from the house of servants, || And I send Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you.
5
O My people, please remember || What Balak king of Moab counseled, || What Balaam son of Beor answered him || (From Shittim to Gilgal), || In order to know the righteous acts of YHWH.”
6
With what do I come before YHWH? Do I bow to God Most High? Do I come before Him with burnt-offerings? With calves—sons of a year?
7
Is YHWH pleased with thousands of rams? With myriads of streams of oil? Do I give my firstborn [for] my transgression? The fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?
8
He has declared to you, O man, what [is] good; Indeed, what is YHWH requiring of you, || Except—to do judgment, and love kindness, || And to walk lowly with your God?
The Punishment of Israel
9
A voice of YHWH calls to the city, || And wisdom fears Your Name, || “Hear the rod, and Him who appointed it.
10
Are there yet [in] the house of the wicked || Treasures of wickedness, || And the abhorred meager ephah?
11
Do I reckon [it] pure with balances of wickedness? And with a bag of deceitful stones?
12
Whose rich ones have been full of violence, || And its inhabitants have spoken falsehood, || And their tongue [is] deceitful in their mouth.
13
And I also, I have begun to strike you, || To make desolate, because of your sins.
14
You eat, and you are not satisfied, || And your pit [is] in your midst, || And you remove, and do not deliver, || And that which you deliver, I give to a sword.
15
You sow, and you do not reap, || You tread the olive, || And you do not pour out oil, || And new wine—and you do not drink wine.
16
And the statutes of Omri are kept habitually, || And all the work of the house of Ahab, || And you walk in their counsels, || For My giving you for a desolation, || And its inhabitants for a hissing, || And you bear the reproach of My people!”
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