LEB MIC Chapter 6

Yahweh Brings a Charge against Israel

• 6 Hear now what Yahweh says:
• “Arise! Plead your case with the mountains,
  • and let the hills hear your voice.”
• 2 Hear, O mountains, the indictment of Yahweh,
  • and you eternal foundations of the earth,
• for Yahweh has an indictment against his people,
  • and against Israel he contends.
• 3 “O my people, what have I done to you,
  • and how have I wearied you? Answer me!
• 4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
  • and from the house of slavery I redeemed you.
  • And I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam before you.
• 5 O my people, remember what Balak the king of Moab devised,
  • and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
• and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
  • so that you might know the righteous acts of Yahweh.”

What Does Yahweh Require?

• 6 With what shall I approach Yahweh,
  • and bow down to God on high?
• Shall I approach him with burnt offerings,
  • with bull calves a year old?
• 7 Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams,
  • with myriads of rivers of oil?
• Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
  • the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
• 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good,
  • and what does Yahweh ask from you
• but to do justice, and to love kindness,
  • and to walk humbly with your God?

The Destruction of the Wicked

• 9 The voice of Yahweh calls to the city
  • ( it is sound judgment to fear your name):
  • “Hear, O staff![fn] Now who has appointed it?
• 10 Is there any longer a man in the house of the wicked
  • treasures of wickedness,
  • and the ephah of scarcity which is accursed?[fn]
• 11 Shall I regard as pure the one with scales of wickedness,
  • and with a bag of deceitful weights?
• 12 Because her rich are full of violence,
  • and her inhabitants speak lies,
  • and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
• 13 And I also have made you sick by striking you down ,[fn]
  • making you desolate because of your sins.
• 14 You yourself will eat but not be satisfied;
  • your hunger will be in your midst,
• and you will put away, but you will not save,
  • and what you save I will hand over to the sword.
• 15 You yourself will sow, but you will not reap;
  • you will tread olives, but you will not anoint yourself with oil;
  • you will tread grapes, but you will not drink wine.
• 16 For you have observed the regulations of Omri
  • and all the works of the house of Ahab.
• And you have walked in their counsels,
  • so that I am making you a desolation
• and your inhabitants an object of scorn.
  • So you will bear the scorn of my people.