“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)

¹⁵ “As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
    I will show them my wonders.^(A)”

¹⁶ Nations will see and be ashamed,^(B)
    deprived of all their power.
They will put their hands over their mouths^(C)
    and their ears will become deaf.
¹⁷ They will lick dust^(D) like a snake,
    like creatures that crawl on the ground.
They will come trembling^(E) out of their dens;
    they will turn in fear^(F) to the Lord our God
    and will be afraid of you.
¹⁸ Who is a God^(G) like you,
    who pardons sin^(H) and forgives^(I) the transgression
    of the remnant^(J) of his inheritance?^(K)
You do not stay angry^(L) forever
    but delight to show mercy.^(M)
19 You will again have compassion on us;
    you will tread our sins underfoot
    and hurl all our iniquities^(N) into the depths of the sea.^(O)
20 You will be faithful to Jacob,
    and show love to Abraham,^(P)
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors^(Q)
    in days long ago.^(R)