Study Desk

Listen to what the Lord says: "Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;^(a) let the hills hear what you have to say.

"Hear,^(b) you mountains, the Lord 's accusation;^(c) listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case^(d) against his people; he is lodging a charge^(e) against Israel.

"My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened^(f) you?^(g) Answer me.

I brought you up out of Egypt^(h) and redeemed you from the land of slavery.⁽ⁱ⁾ I sent Moses^(j) to lead you, also Aaron^(k) and Miriam.^(l)

My people, remember what Balak^(m) king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim⁽ⁿ⁾ to Gilgal,^(o) that you may know the righteous acts^(p) of the Lord ."

With what shall I come before^(q) the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?^(r)

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(s) with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(t) Shall I offer my firstborn^(u) for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(v)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly^(w) and to love mercy and to walk humbly^[a](x) with your God.^(y)

Listen! The Lord is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom— "Heed the rod^(z) and the One who appointed it.^[b]

Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah,^[c] which is accursed?^(aa)

Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,^(ab) with a bag of false weights?^(ac)

Your rich people are violent;^(ad) your inhabitants are liars^(ae) and their tongues speak deceitfully.^(af)

Therefore, I have begun to destroy^(ag) you, to ruin^[d] you because of your sins.

You will eat but not be satisfied;^(ah) your stomach will still be empty.^[e] You will store up but save nothing,^(ai) because what you save^[f] I will give to the sword.

You will plant but not harvest;^(aj) you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.^(ak)

You have observed the statutes of Omri^(al) and all the practices of Ahab's^(am) house; you have followed their traditions.^(an) Therefore I will give you over to ruin^(ao) and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn^(ap) of the nations.^[g]"

What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs^(a) that I crave.

The faithful have been swept from the land;^(b) not one^(c) upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait^(d) to shed blood;^(e) they hunt each other^(f) with nets.^(g)

Both hands are skilled in doing evil;^(h) the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes,⁽ⁱ⁾ the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together.

The best of them is like a brier,^(j) the most upright worse than a thorn^(k) hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion.^(l)

Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend.^(m) Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.

For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother,⁽ⁿ⁾ a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies are the members of his own household.^(o)

But as for me, I watch^(p) in hope^(q) for the Lord , I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear^(r) me.

Do not gloat over me,^(s) my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.^(t) Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.^(u)

Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord 's wrath,^(v) until he pleads my case^(w) and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light;^(x) I will see his righteousness.^(y)

Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame,^(z) she who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?"^(aa) My eyes will see her downfall;^(ab) even now she will be trampled^(ac) underfoot like mire in the streets.

The day for building your walls^(ad) will come, the day for extending your boundaries.

In that day people will come to you from Assyria^(ae) and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates and from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.^(af)

The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds.^(ag)

Shepherd^(ah) your people with your staff,^(ai) the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands.^[a](aj) Let them feed in Bashan^(ak) and Gilead^(al) as in days long ago.^(am)

"As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders.^(an)"

Nations will see and be ashamed,^(ao) deprived of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths^(ap) and their ears will become deaf.

They will lick dust^(aq) like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling^(ar) out of their dens; they will turn in fear^(as) to the Lord our God and will be afraid of you.

Who is a God^(at) like you, who pardons sin^(au) and forgives^(av) the transgression of the remnant^(aw) of his inheritance?^(ax) You do not stay angry^(ay) forever but delight to show mercy.^(az)

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities^(ba) into the depths of the sea.^(bb)

You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham,^(bc) as you pledged on oath to our ancestors^(bd) in days long ago.^(be)