| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1Listen to what the LORD says: "Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. | 1Listen to what the LORD says: "Get up! Defend yourself before the mountains! Present your case before the hills!" |
| 2"Hear, you mountains, the LORD's accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel. | 2Hear the LORD's accusation, you mountains, you enduring foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a case against his people; he has a dispute with Israel! |
| 3"My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me. | 3"My people, how have I wronged you? How have I wearied you? Answer me! |
| 4I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. | 4In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I delivered you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. |
| 5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD." | 5My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, how Balaam son of Beor responded to him. Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal, so you might acknowledge that the LORD has treated you fairly." |
| 6With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? | 6With what should I enter the LORD's presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? |
| 7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? | 7Will the LORD accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring--my own flesh and blood--for my sin? |
| 8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. | 8He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God. |
| 9Listen! The LORD is calling to the city-- and to fear your name is wisdom-- "Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. | 9Listen! The LORD is calling to the city! It is wise to respect your authority, O LORD! Listen, O nation, and those assembled in the city! |
| 10Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house, and the short ephah, which is accursed? | 10"I will not overlook, O sinful house, the dishonest gain you have hoarded away, or the smaller-than-standard measure I hate so much. |
| 11Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? | 11I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights. |
| 12Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. | 12The city's rich men think nothing of resorting to violence; her inhabitants lie, their tongues speak deceptive words. |
| 13Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins. | 13I will strike you brutally and destroy you because of your sin. |
| 14You will eat but not be satisfied; your stomach will still be empty. You will store up but save nothing, because what you save I will give to the sword. | 14You will eat, but not be satisfied. Even if you have the strength to overtake some prey, you will not be able to carry it away; if you do happen to carry away something, I will deliver it over to the sword. |
| 15You will plant but not harvest; you will press olives but not use the oil, you will crush grapes but not drink the wine. | 15You will plant crops, but will not harvest them; you will squeeze oil from the olives, but you will have no oil to rub on your bodies; you will squeeze juice from the grapes, but you will have no wine to drink. |
| 16You have observed the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house; you have followed their traditions. Therefore I will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of the nations." | 16You implement the regulations of Omri, and all the practices of Ahab's dynasty; you follow their policies. Therefore I will make you an appalling sight, the city's inhabitants will be taunted derisively, and nations will mock all of you." |
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