Chapter 6

Hear³ ye now what the LORD saith;⁶ Arise,³ contend³ thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear⁴ thy voice.

Hear³ ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead¹⁰¹ with Israel.

O my people, what have I done¹ unto thee? and wherein have I wearied⁵² thee? testify³ against me.

For I brought thee up⁵² out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed¹ thee out of the house of servants; and I sent⁴ before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

O my people, remember³ now what Balak king of Moab consulted,¹ and what Balaam the son of Beor answered¹ him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know² the righteousness of the LORD.

Wherewith shall I come before¹⁷ the LORD, [and] bow¹¹ myself before the high God? shall I come before¹⁷ him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased⁴ with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give⁴ my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed⁵² thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require⁶ of thee, but to do² justly, and to love mercy, and to walk² humbly⁵³ with thy God?

The LORD'S voice crieth⁴ unto the city, and [the man of] wisdom shall see⁴ thy name: hear³ ye the rod, and who hath appointed¹ it.

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness ³⁷⁶ in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure [that is] abominable?⁷

Shall I count [them] pure⁴ with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

For the rich men thereof are full¹ of violence, and the inhabitants⁶ thereof have spoken¹⁴ lies, and their tongue [is] deceitful in their mouth.

Therefore also will I make [thee] sick⁵² in smiting⁵³ thee, in making [thee] desolate⁵³ because of thy sins.

Thou shalt eat,⁴ but not be satisfied;⁴ and thy casting down [shall be] in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold,⁵⁵ but shalt not deliver;⁵⁵ and [that] which thou deliverest¹⁷ will I give up⁴ to the sword.

Thou shalt sow,⁴ but thou shalt not reap;⁴ thou shalt tread⁴ the olives, but thou shalt not anoint⁴ thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink⁴ wine.

For the statutes of Omri are kept,¹⁰¹ and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk⁴ in their counsels; that I should make² thee a desolation, and the inhabitants⁶ thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear⁴ the reproach of my people.