Micah 6:1-8

Contemporary English Version

The Lord's Challenge to His People

6 The Lord said to his people:
Come and present your case
    to the hills and mountains.
²Israel, I am bringing charges
    against you—
I call upon the mountains
and the earth's firm foundation
    to be my witnesses.

³My people, have I wronged you
in any way at all?
    Please tell me.
⁴^(A) I rescued you from Egypt,
    where you were slaves.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam
    to be your leaders.
⁵^(B) Don't forget the evil plans
    of King Balak of Moab
or what Balaam son of Beor^[a]
    said to him.
Remember how I, the Lord,
    saved you many times
on your way from Acacia
    to Gilgal.^[b]

True Obedience

⁶What offering should I bring
when I bow down to worship
    the Lord God Most High?
Should I try to please him^[c]
by sacrificing
    calves a year old?
⁷Will thousands of sheep
or rivers of olive oil
    make God satisfied with me?
Should I sacrifice to the Lord
my first-born child as payment
    for my terrible sins?
⁸The Lord God has told us
what is right
    and what he demands:
“See that justice is done,
let mercy be your first concern,
    and humbly obey your God.”

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Footnotes

6.5 Balak … Beor: See Numbers 22-24.
6.5 Acacia to Gilgal: Acacia was where the Israelites camped after the experience with Balaam (see Numbers 25.1; Joshua 2.1; 3.1); Gilgal was where they camped while waiting to attack Jericho (see Joshua 4.19—5.12).
6.6 try to please him: This refers to what are traditionally called “burnt sacrifices,” which were offered as a way of pleasing the Lord.