YHWH’s Case Against Israel

¹Y’all must listen to what YHWH says:

“You are to arise and plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear what you have to say.

²Y’all listen to YHWH’s indictment, O mountains,

the enduring foundations of the earth.

YHWH has a case against ʜɪꜱ people,

and ʜᴇ will argue against Israel.

³My people, what have I done to you?

How have I burdened you?

Answer me!

⁴For 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.

⁵My 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 YHWH.”

⁶How should I come before YHWH,

and bow myself before the exalted God?

Should I come before ʜɪᴍ with burnt offerings,

with yearling calves?

⁷Will YHWH be pleased with thousands of rams?

With ten thousand rivers of oil?

Should I give my firstborn for my rebellion?

The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

⁸Hᴇ has shown you, human, what is good.

What does YHWH require of you?

To do justice,

love kindness,

and walk humbly with your God.

Judgment on the Wicked

⁹YHWH’s voice calls to the city—

and wisdom fears your name—

“Y’all listen to the rod,

and the one who appointed it.

¹⁰Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked,

and a short ephah that is accursed?

¹¹Can I excuse dishonest scales,

or a bag of deceptive weights?

¹²Her rich men are full of violence,

her inhabitants speak lies,

and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.

¹³Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound.

I have made you desolate because of your sins.

¹⁴You will eat, but not be satisfied.

Your hunger will be within you.

You will store up, but not save,

and that which you save I will give up to the sword.

¹⁵You 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.

¹⁶For the statutes of Omri

and all the works of Ahab’s house are observed.

Y’all walk in their counsels,

that I may bring you to ruin,

and your inhabitants to derision.

Y’all will bear the reproach of the nations.”