Study Desk

Now listen to what the Lord is saying: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.

Listen to the Lord 's lawsuit,^(a) you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,^(b) because the Lord has a case against His people,^(c) and He will argue it against Israel.

My people,^(d) what have I done to you,^(e) or how have I wearied you?^(f) Testify against Me!

Indeed, I brought you up^(g) from the land of Egypt and redeemed you^(h) from that place of slavery.⁽ⁱ⁾ I sent Moses,^(j) Aaron, and Miriam^(k) ahead of you.

My people, remember what Balak king of Moab^(l) proposed, what Balaam son of Beor answered him,^(m) and what happened from the Acacia Grove^[a](n) to Gilgal^(o) so that you may acknowledge the Lord 's righteous acts.^(p)

What should I bring before the Lord ^(q) when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings,^(r) with year-old calves?

Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams^(s) or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,^(t) the child of my body for my own sin?

Mankind, He has told you what is good^(u) and what it is the Lord requires of you:^(v) to act justly,^(w) to love faithfulness,^(x) and to walk humbly with your God.^(y)

The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city^[b] (and it is wise to fear Your name): "Pay attention to the rod and the One who ordained it.^[c]

Are there still^[d] the treasures of wickedness^(z) and the accursed short measure^(aa) in the house of the wicked?

Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights?^(ab)

For the wealthy of the city are full of violence,^(ac) and its residents speak lies;^(ad) the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.^(ae)

"As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,^[e](af) bringing desolation because of your sins.^(ag)

You will eat but not be satisfied,^(ah) for there will be hunger within you. What you acquire, you cannot save,^(ai) and what you do save, I will give to the sword.^[f]

You will sow but not reap;^(aj) you will press olives but not anoint yourself with oil; and you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.^(ak)

The statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house have been observed; you have followed their policies.^(al) Therefore, I will make you a desolate place^(am) and the city's^[g] residents an object of contempt;^[h](an) you will bear the scorn of My people."^[i](ao)

How sad for me! For I am like one who— when the summer fruit has been gathered after the gleaning of the grape harvest^(a)— finds no grape cluster to eat, no early fig, which I crave.^(b)

Godly people have vanished from the land;^(c) there is no one upright among the people.^(d) All of them wait in ambush to shed blood;^(e) they hunt each other with a net.^(f)

Both hands are good^(g) at accomplishing evil: the official and the judge demand a bribe;^(h) when the powerful man communicates his evil desire, they plot it together.

The best of them is like a brier;⁽ⁱ⁾ the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.^(j) The day of your watchmen, the day of your punishment, is coming;^(k) at this time their panic is here.^(l)

Do not rely on a friend;^(m) don't trust in a close companion. Seal your mouth from the woman who lies in your arms.

Surely a son considers his father a fool,⁽ⁿ⁾ a daughter opposes her mother, and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own household.

But I will look to the Lord ;^(o) I will wait for the God of my salvation.^(p) My God will hear me.^(q)

Do not rejoice over me,^(r) my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up;^(s) though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.^(t)

Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the Lord 's rage until He argues my case^(u) and establishes justice for me.^(v) He will bring me into the light;^(w) I will see His salvation.^[a](x)

Then my enemy will see, and she will be covered with shame, the one who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?"^(y) My eyes will look at her in triumph; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.^(z)

A day will come for rebuilding your walls;^(aa) on that day your boundary will be extended.^(ab)

On that day people will come to you^(ac) from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates River and from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

Then the earth will become a wasteland^(ad) because of its inhabitants and as a result of their actions.^(ae)

Shepherd Your people^(af) with Your staff,^(ag) the flock that is Your possession. They live alone^(ah) in a woodland surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead^(ai) as in ancient times.^(aj)

I will perform miracles for them^[b] as in the days of your exodus from the land of Egypt.^(ak)

Nations will see and be ashamed of^[c] all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths,^(al) and their ears will become deaf.

They will lick the dust like a snake;^(am) they will come trembling out of their hiding places^(an) like reptiles slithering on the ground.^(ao) They will tremble in the presence of Yahweh our God;^(ap) they will stand in awe of You.

Who is a God like You,^(aq) removing iniquity and passing over rebellion^(ar) for the remnant of His inheritance?^(as) He does not hold on to His anger forever,^(at) because He delights in faithful love.^(au)

He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities.^(av) You will cast all our^[d] sins into the depths of the sea.^(aw)

You will show loyalty to Jacob^(ax) and faithful love to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers^(ay) from days long ago.