¹ Listen now to what Jehovah says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.

² Hear, you mountains, Jehovah's controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Jehovah has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

³ My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!

⁴ For 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.

⁵ My 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 Jehovah."

⁶ How shall I come before Jehovah, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

⁷ Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Jehovah require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

⁹ Jehovah's voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.

¹⁰ Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah¹ that is accursed?

1. An ephah is a measure of volume, and a short ephah is made smaller than a full ephah for the purpose of cheating customers

¹¹ Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?

¹² Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.

¹³ Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.

¹⁴ You shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your humiliation will be in your midst. You will store up, but not save; and that which you save I will give up to the sword.

¹⁵ You 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.

¹⁶ For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and her inhabitants a hissing; And you will bear the reproach of my people."