The voice of the Lord will call to the city—
And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name:
[a]Hear, you tribe. Who has designated [b]its time?
10 Is there still a person in the wicked house,
Along with treasures of (A)wickedness,
And a [c](B)short measure that is cursed?
11 Can I justify dishonest (C)balances,
And a bag of fraudulent weights?
12 For the rich people of [d]the city are full of (D)violence,
Her residents speak (E)lies,
And their (F)tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 So also I will make you (G)sick, striking you down,
(H)Making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You will eat, but you will (I)not be satisfied,
And your filth will be in your midst.
You will try to remove valuables for safekeeping,
But you will (J)not save it all,
And what you do save I will turn over to the sword.
15 You will sow but you will (K)not harvest.
You will tread the olive press but will not anoint yourself with oil;
And tread out sweet wine, but you will (L)not drink any wine.
16 The statutes of (M)Omri
And every work of the house of (N)Ahab are maintained,
And you (O)walk by their plans.
Therefore I will give you up for (P)destruction,
And [e]your inhabitants for [f](Q)derision,
And you will suffer the (R)taunting of My people.”

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:9 Or Hear about the rod and who designated it
  2. Micah 6:9 Lit it
  3. Micah 6:10 Lit shrunken ephah
  4. Micah 6:12 Lit her are
  5. Micah 6:16 Lit her
  6. Micah 6:16 Lit whistling (in mockery)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—
    and to fear your name is wisdom—
    “Heed the rod(A) and the One who appointed it.[a]
10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
    and the short ephah,[b] which is accursed?(B)
11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,(C)
    with a bag of false weights?(D)
12 Your rich people are violent;(E)
    your inhabitants are liars(F)
    and their tongues speak deceitfully.(G)
13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy(H) you,
    to ruin[c] you because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied;(I)
    your stomach will still be empty.[d]
You will store up but save nothing,(J)
    because what you save[e] I will give to the sword.
15 You will plant but not harvest;(K)
    you will press olives but not use the oil,
    you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.(L)
16 You have observed the statutes of Omri(M)
    and all the practices of Ahab’s(N) house;
    you have followed their traditions.(O)
Therefore I will give you over to ruin(P)
    and your people to derision;
    you will bear the scorn(Q) of the nations.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  2. Micah 6:10 An ephah was a dry measure.
  3. Micah 6:13 Or Therefore, I will make you ill and destroy you; / I will ruin
  4. Micah 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  5. Micah 6:14 Or You will press toward birth but not give birth, / and what you bring to birth
  6. Micah 6:16 Septuagint; Hebrew scorn due my people