| 1 | Listen now to what Yahweh says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say. |
| 2 | Hear, you mountains, Yahweh's controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh 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 Yahweh." |
| 6 | How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? |
| 7 | Will Yahweh 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 Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? |
| 9 | Yahweh'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 in your midst. 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 the house of Ahab. 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." |
