Study Desk

Hear now what the LORD is saying, "Arise, plead your case ^(F1)before the mountains, And let the hills hear your voice.

-"Listen, you mountains, to the indictment by the LORD, And you enduring ^(C1)foundations of the earth, Because the ^(C2)LORD has a case against His people; And He will dispute with Israel.

-"^(C1)My people, ^(C2)what have I done to you, And ^(C3)how have I wearied you? Answer Me.

-"Indeed, I ^(C1)brought you up from the land of Egypt, I ^(C2)redeemed you from the house of slavery, And I sent before you ^(C3)Moses, Aaron, and ^(C4)Miriam.

-"My people, remember now What ^(C1)Balak king of Moab planned And what Balaam son of Beor answered him, And what happened from ^(C2)Shittim to ^(C3)Gilgal, ^(F1)So that you might know the ^(C4)righteous acts of the LORD."

^(C1)With what shall I come to the LORD And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with ^(C2)burnt offerings, With yearling calves?

Does the LORD take pleasure in ^(C1)thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of ^(F1)oil? Shall I give Him my ^(C2)firstborn for my wrongdoings, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has ^(C1)told you, mortal one, what is good; And ^(C2)what does the LORD require of you But to ^(C3)do justice, to ^(C4)love ^(F1)kindness, And to walk ^(F2)(C5)humbly with your God?

The voice of the LORD will call to the city— And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: "^(F1)Hear, you tribe. Who has designated ^(F2)its time?

-"Is there still a person in the wicked house, Along with treasures of ^(C1)wickedness, And a ^(F1)(C2)short measure that is cursed?

-"Can I justify dishonest ^(C1)balances, And a bag of fraudulent weights?

-"For the rich people of ^(F1)the city are full of ^(C1)violence, Her residents speak ^(C2)lies, And their ^(C3)tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

-"So also I will make you ^(C1)sick, striking you down, ^(C2)Making you desolate because of your sins.

-"You will eat, but you will ^(C1)not be satisfied, And your filth will be in your midst. You will try to remove valuables for safekeeping, But you will ^(C2)not save it all, And what you do save I will turn over to the sword.

-"You will sow but you will ^(C1)not harvest. You will tread the olive press but will not anoint yourself with oil; And tread out sweet wine, but you will ^(C2)not drink any wine.

-"The statutes of ^(C1)Omri And every work of the house of ^(C2)Ahab are maintained, And you ^(C3)walk by their plans. Therefore I will give you up for ^(C4)destruction, And ^(F1)your inhabitants for ^(F2)(C5)derision, And you will suffer the ^(C6)taunting of My people."