Read Micah 6

Micah6

The Case against Israel

¹Hear now what the LORD says:
“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,and let the hills hear your voice.²Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,you enduring foundations of the earth.For the LORD has a case against His people,and He will argue it against Israel:

³‘My people, what have I done to you?Testify against Me how I have wearied you!⁴For I brought you up from the land of Egyptand redeemed you from the house of slavery.I sent Moses before you,as well as Aaron and Miriam.⁵My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseledand what Balaam son of Beor answered.Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

⁶With what shall I come before the LORDwhen I bow before the God on high?Should I come to Him with ascension offerings,with year-old calves?⁷Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,with ten thousand rivers of oil?Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression,the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

⁸He has shown you, O man, what is good.And what does the LORD require of youbut to act justly, to love mercy,and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

⁹The voice of the LORD calls out to the city(and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name):“Heed the rodand the One who ordained it.¹⁰Can I forget any longer,O house of the wicked,the treasures of wickednessand the short ephah, which is accursed?¹¹Can I excuse dishonest scalesor bags of false weights?¹²For the wealthy of the cityare full of violence,and its residents speak lies;their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

¹³Therefore I am striking you severely,to ruin you because of your sins.¹⁴You will eat but not be satisfied,and your hunger will remain with you.What you acquire, you will not preserve;and what you save, I will give to the sword.¹⁵You will sow but not reap;you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil;you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.¹⁶You have kept the statutes of Omriand all the practices of Ahab’s house;you have followed their counsel.Therefore I will make you a desolation,and your inhabitants an object of contempt;you will bear the scorn of the nations. ”