Micah 6:3-16 ▼

3 ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you!

4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt (land of bondage) and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses (drawn out) before you, as well as Aaron (light bringer) and Miriam (rebellion).

5 My people, remember what Balak (devastator) king of Moab (of his father) counseled and what Balaam (not of the people) son of Beor (burning) answered. Remember your journey from Shittim (Acacia Grove) to Gilgal (a wheel), so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD {YHWH}.’”

6 With what shall I come before the LORD {YHWH} when I bow before the God {Elohe} on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

7 Would the LORD {YHWH} be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD {YHWH} require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God {Eloheka}?

9 The voice of the LORD {YHWH} calls out to the city (and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name): “Heed the rod and the One who ordained it.

10 Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?

11 Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?

12 For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

13 Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.

14 You will eat but not be satisfied, and your hunger will remain with you. What you acquire, you will not preserve; and what you save, I will give to the sword.

15 You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

16 You have kept the statutes of Omri (pupil of YHWH) and all the practices of Ahab’s (father's brother) house; you⁺ have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you⁺ will bear the scorn of the nations [scorn of My people].