Micah 6  GOD’S WORD Translation

³ “My people, what have I done to you?
How have I tried your patience? Answer me!
⁴ I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
⁵ My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned ⌞to do to you⌟
and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him.
Remember ⌞your journey⌟ from Shittim to Gilgal
so that you may know the victories of the Lord.”

⁶ What should I bring when I come into the Lord’s presence,
when I bow in front of the God of heaven?
Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings?
⁷ Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams
or with endless streams of olive oil?
Should I give him my firstborn child because of my rebellious acts?
Should I give him my young child for my sin?
⁸ You mortals, the Lord has told you what is good.
This is what the Lord requires from you:
to do what is right,
to love mercy,
and to live humbly with your God.

⁹ The voice of the Lord calls out to the city.
(The fear of your name is wisdom.)
“Listen, you tribe assembled in the city.^[a]
10 I have cursed all the wicked people who use their money for evil
and use inaccurate weights and measures.
¹¹ I cannot tolerate dishonest scales
and bags filled with inaccurate weights.
¹² The rich people in the city are violent.
Those who live in the city speak lies,
and their tongues speak deceitfully.
¹³ I have begun to strike you with heavy blows
and to ruin you because of your sins.
¹⁴ You will eat, but you won’t be full.
So you will always be hungry.
You will put things away, but you won’t save them.
Anything you save I will destroy.
¹⁵ You will plant, but you won’t harvest.
You will crush olives, but you won’t rub the oil on your skin.
You will make new wine, but you won’t drink it.
¹⁶ You have kept Omri’s laws
and all the practices of the descendants of Ahab,
and you have followed their advice.
That is why I will ruin you.
Your people will be ridiculed.
You will bear the disgrace of my people.”