1Hear what GOD is saying:Come, present [My] case before the mountains,And let the hills hear you pleading.
2Hear, you mountains, GOD’s case— You firmaYou firm Emendation yields “Give ear, you.” foundations of the earth!For GOD has a case against this covenanted people—A suit against Israel.
3“My people!What wrong have I done you?What hardship have I caused you?Testify against Me.
4In fact,I brought you up from the land of Egypt,I redeemed you from the house of bondage,And I sent before youMoses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5“My people,Remember what Balak king of MoabPlotted against you,And how Balaam son of BeorResponded to him.[Recall your passage]From Shittim to GilgalbFrom Shittim to Gilgal I.e., the crossing of the Jordan; see Josh. 3.1, 14–4.19.—And you will recognizeGOD’s gracious acts.”
6With what shall I approach GOD,Do homage to God on high?Shall I approach with burnt offerings,With calves a year old?
7Would GOD be pleased with thousands of rams,With myriads of streams of oil?Shall I give my first-born for my transgression,The fruit of my body for my sins?
8“You have been told, O mortal, what is good,And what GOD requires of you:Only to do justiceAnd to love goodness,And to walk modestly with your God;cto walk modestly with your God Or “it is prudent to serve your God.”
9Then will your name achieve wisdom.”dThen will your name achieve wisdom Emendation yields “And it is worthwhile to revere God’s name.” Hark! GOD Summons the city:ethe city Apparently the capital of either the northern or southern kingdom. Hear, O scepter;For who can direct her
10but you?fHear … but you? Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Will I overlook,goverlook Taking ʼish as from nashah “to forget”; cf. Deut. 32.18. in houses of the wicked,The granaries of wickednessAnd the accursed short ephah?hshort ephah Cf. Amos 8.4–5.
11Shall theyithey Heb. “I”; change of vocalization yields “Will I acquit them.” be acquitted despite wicked balancesAnd a bag of fraudulent weights?—
12jThis verse would read well after “city” in v. 9. Whose wealthy are full of lawlessness,And whose inhabitants speak treachery,With tongues of deceit in their mouths.
13I, in turn, have beaten you sore,Have stunned [you] for your sins:
14You have been eating without getting your fill,And there is a gnawing at your vitals;You have been conceiving without bearing young,kAnd there is a gnawing … bearing young Meaning of Heb. uncertain. And what you bore I would deliver to the sword.
15You have been sowing, but have nothing to reap;You have trod olives, but have no oil for rubbing,And grapeslgrapes Lit. “new wine.” but have no wine to drink.
16Yet you have keptmyou have kept Heb. “is kept.” the laws of Omri,And all the practices of the House of Ahab,And have followed what they devised.Therefore I will make you an object of horrorAnd the city’snthe city’s Heb. “her”; cf. v. 9. inhabitants an object of hissing;ohissing See note at Jer. 18.16. And you shall bear the mockery of peoples.ppeoples Heb. “My people.”