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The Case Against Israel

¹ Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.² Hear, 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!⁴ For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.⁵ My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Acacia Grove^(a) to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.”

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?⁷ Would 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?⁸ He has shown you, O mankind, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

⁹ The voice of the LORD calls out to the city—and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name—“Heed the rod and the One who ordained it.¹⁰ Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?¹¹ Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?¹² For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.¹³ Therefore I will strike you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.¹⁴ You 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 over to the sword.¹⁵ You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.¹⁶ You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations^(a).”