1Hear now what Yahweh is saying: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
2Hear, O mountains, the lawsuit of Yahweh, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh has a lawsuit with his people, and with Israel he will contend.
3My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Answer me!
4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and from the house of slaves I redeemed you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab plotted, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him — from Shittim to Gilgal — so that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.
6With what shall I come before Yahweh, bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
7Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my belly for the sin of my self?
8He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does Yahweh require of you but to do justice, and to love loyal love, and to walk humbly with your God?
9The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city — and it is sound wisdom to fear your name — Hear, O tribe, and who has appointed it!
10Are there still in the house of the wicked treasures of wickedness, and the accursed short measure?
11Shall I acquit one with wicked scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
12For her rich men are full of violence, and her inhabitants speak falsehood, and their tongue is deceit in their mouth.
13So I also have begun to strike you, making you desolate because of your sins.
14You will eat but not be satisfied, and your emptiness will remain within you; you will remove but not save, and what you save I will give over to the sword.
15You will sow but not reap; you will tread the olive but not anoint yourself with oil, and the new wine but not drink the wine.
16For the statutes of Omri are kept, and every deed of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels — so that I make you a desolation, and her inhabitants an object of hissing; and you shall bear the reproach of my people.
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