Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
² Listen to the Lord’s lawsuit,^(A)
you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth,^(B)
because the Lord has a case against His people,^(C)
and He will argue it against Israel.
³ My people,^(D) what have I done to you,^(E)
or how have I wearied you?^(F)
Testify against Me!
⁴ Indeed, I brought you up^(G) from the land of Egypt
and redeemed you^(H) from that place of slavery.^(I)
I sent Moses,^(J) Aaron, and Miriam^(K) ahead of you.
⁵ My people,
remember what Balak king of Moab^(L) proposed,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,^(M)
and what happened from the Acacia Grove^[a](N) to Gilgal^(O)
so that you may acknowledge
the Lord’s righteous acts.^(P)

⁶ What should I bring before the Lord^(Q)
when I come to bow before God on high?
Should I come before Him with burnt offerings,^(R)
with year-old calves?
⁷ Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams^(S)
or with ten thousand streams of oil?
Should I give my firstborn for my transgression,^(T)
the child of my body for my own sin?

⁸ Mankind, He has told you what is good^(U)
and what it is the Lord requires of you:^(V)
to act justly,^(W)
to love faithfulness,^(X)
and to walk humbly with your God.^(Y)

¹³ “As a result, I have begun to strike you severely,^[e](AF)
bringing desolation because of your sins.^(AG)
14 You will eat but not be satisfied,^(AH)
for there will be hunger within you.
What you acquire, you cannot save,^(AI)
and what you do save,
I will give to the sword.^[f]
15 You will sow but not reap;^(AJ)
you will press olives
but not anoint yourself with oil;
and you will tread grapes
but not drink the wine.^(AK)
16 The statutes of Omri
and all the practices of Ahab’s house
have been observed;
you have followed their policies.^(AL)
Therefore, I will make you a desolate place^(AM)
and the city’s^[g] residents an object of contempt;^[h](AN)
you will bear the scorn of My people.”^[i](AO)