“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;^(A)
    let the hills hear what you have to say.

² “Hear,^(B) you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;^(C)
    listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case^(D) against his people;
    he is lodging a charge^(E) against Israel.

³ “My people, what have I done to you?
    How have I burdened^(F) you?^(G) Answer me.
⁴ I brought you up out of Egypt^(H)
    and redeemed you from the land of slavery.^(I)
I sent Moses^(J) to lead you,
    also Aaron^(K) and Miriam.^(L)
5 My people, remember
    what Balak^(M) king of Moab plotted
    and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim^(N) to Gilgal,^(O)
    that you may know the righteous acts^(P) of the Lord.”

⁶ With what shall I come before^(Q) the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?^(R)
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(S)
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(T)
Shall I offer my firstborn^(U) for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(V)
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly^(W) and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly^[a](X) with your God.^(Y)

“I am planning disaster^(A) against this people,
    from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,^(B)
    for it will be a time of calamity.

² “But you, Bethlehem^(A) Ephrathah,^(B)
    though you are small among the clans^[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler^(C) over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,^(D)
    from ancient times.”^(E)