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God Challenges Israel

Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
    and let the hills hear your voice.
Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord,
    and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the Lord has a controversy with his people,
    and he will contend with Israel.

“O my people, what have I done to you?
    In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
    and redeemed you from the house of bondage;
and I sent before you Moses,
    Aaron, and Miriam.
O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
    and what Balaam the son of Be′or answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the saving acts of the Lord.”

What God Requires

“With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my first-born for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has showed you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[a]
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Cheating and Violence to Be Punished

The voice of the Lord cries to the city—
    and it is sound wisdom to fear thy name:
“Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city![b]
10     Can I forget[c] the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
    and the scant measure that is accursed?
11 Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales
    and with a bag of deceitful weights?
12 Your[d] rich men are full of violence;
    your[e] inhabitants speak lies,
    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 Therefore I have begun[f] to smite you,
    making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You shall eat, but not be satisfied,
    and there shall be hunger in your inward parts;
you shall put away, but not save,
    and what you save I will give to the sword.
15 You shall sow, but not reap;
    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
16 For you have kept the statutes of Omri,[g]
    and all the works of the house of Ahab;
    and you have walked in their counsels;
that I may make you a desolation, and your[h] inhabitants a hissing;
    so you shall bear the scorn of the peoples.”[i]

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:8 Or steadfast love
  2. Micah 6:9 Cn Compare Gk: Heb and who has appointed it yet
  3. Micah 6:10 Cn: Heb uncertain
  4. Micah 6:12 Heb whose
  5. Micah 6:12 Heb whose
  6. Micah 6:13 Gk Syr Vg: Heb have made sick
  7. Micah 6:16 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb the statutes of Omri are kept
  8. Micah 6:16 Heb its
  9. Micah 6:16 Gk: Heb my people

God Pleads with Israel

Hear now what the Lord says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
And let the hills hear your voice.
(A)Hear, O you mountains, (B)the Lord’s complaint,
And you strong foundations of the earth;
For (C)the Lord has a complaint against His people,
And He will [a]contend with Israel.

“O My people, what (D)have I done to you?
And how have I (E)wearied you?
Testify against Me.
(F)For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I redeemed you from the house of bondage;
And I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
O My people, remember now
What (G)Balak king of Moab counseled,
And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
From [b]Acacia Grove to Gilgal,
That you may know (H)the righteousness of the Lord.”

With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
(I)Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand (J)rivers of oil?
(K)Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
[c]The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has (L)shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But (M)to do justly,
To love [d]mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Punishment of Israel’s Injustice

The Lord’s voice cries to the city—
Wisdom shall see Your name:

“Hear the rod!
Who has appointed it?
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness
In the house of the wicked,
And the short measure that is an abomination?
11 Shall I count pure those with (N)the wicked scales,
And with the bag of deceitful weights?
12 For her rich men are full of (O)violence,
Her inhabitants have spoken lies,
And (P)their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

13 “Therefore I will also (Q)make you sick by striking you,
By making you desolate because of your sins.
14 (R)You shall eat, but not be satisfied;
[e]Hunger shall be in your midst.
You may carry some away,[f] but shall not save them;
And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.

15 “You shall (S)sow, but not reap;
You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
And make sweet wine, but not drink wine.
16 For the statutes of (T)Omri are (U)kept;
All the works of Ahab’s house are done;
And you walk in their counsels,
That I may make you a [g]desolation,
And your inhabitants a hissing.
Therefore you shall bear the (V)reproach of [h]My people.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:2 bring charges against
  2. Micah 6:5 Heb. Shittim, Num. 25:1; Josh. 2:1; 3:1
  3. Micah 6:7 My own child
  4. Micah 6:8 Or lovingkindness
  5. Micah 6:14 Or Emptiness or Humiliation
  6. Micah 6:14 Tg., Vg. You shall take hold
  7. Micah 6:16 Or object of horror
  8. Micah 6:16 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX nations

The Indictment of the Lord

(A)Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
    and let the hills hear your voice.
(B)Hear, you mountains, (C)the indictment of the Lord,
    and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment against his people,
    and he will contend with Israel.

“O my people, (D)what have I done to you?
    (E)How have I wearied you? Answer me!
For (F)I brought you up from the land of Egypt
    and (G)redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
    Aaron, and (H)Miriam.
O my people, remember (I)what Balak king of Moab devised,
    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from (J)Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know (K)the righteous acts of the Lord.”

What Does the Lord Require?

(L)“With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before (M)God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
(N)Will the Lord be pleased with[a] thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
(O)Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and (P)what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[b]
    and to (Q)walk humbly with your God?

Destruction of the Wicked

The voice of the Lord cries to the city—
    and it is sound wisdom to fear (R)your name:
“Hear of (S)the rod and of him who appointed it![c]
10     Can I forget any longer the treasures[d] of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
    and the scant measure that is accursed?
11 Shall I acquit the man (T)with wicked scales
    and with a bag of deceitful weights?
12 Your[e] rich men are (U)full of violence;
    your inhabitants (V)speak lies,
    and (W)their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,
    (X)making you desolate because of your sins.
14 (Y)You shall eat, but not be satisfied,
    and there shall be hunger within you;
you shall put away, but not preserve,
    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.
15 (Z)You shall sow, but not reap;
    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
16 For you have kept the statutes of (AA)Omri,[f]
    and all the works of the house of (AB)Ahab;
    and you have walked in their counsels,
that I may make you (AC)a desolation, and your[g] inhabitants (AD)a hissing;
    so you shall bear (AE)the scorn of my people.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:7 Or Will the Lord accept
  2. Micah 6:8 Or steadfast love
  3. Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  4. Micah 6:10 Or Are there still treasures
  5. Micah 6:12 Hebrew whose
  6. Micah 6:16 Hebrew For the statutes of Omri are kept
  7. Micah 6:16 Hebrew its

Juicio de Dios contra su pueblo

Oigan ahora lo que dice el Señor:
«Levántate, litiga con los montes,
Y oigan las colinas tu voz.
-»Oigan, montes, la acusación del Señor,
Y ustedes, perdurables cimientos de la tierra(A),
Porque el Señor tiene litigio contra Su pueblo,
Y con Israel entablará juicio(B).
-»Pueblo Mío(C), ¿qué te he hecho(D),
O en qué te he molestado? ¡Respóndeme(E)!
-»Pues Yo te hice subir de la tierra de Egipto(F),
Y de la casa de servidumbre te redimí(G),
Y envié delante de ti a Moisés(H), a Aarón y a Miriam(I).
-»Pueblo Mío, acuérdate ahora
De lo que tramó Balac, rey de Moab,
Y de lo que le respondió Balaam, hijo de Beor(J),
Desde Sitim(K) hasta Gilgal(L),
Para que conozcas las justicias del Señor(M)».

La injusticia y su castigo

¶¿Con qué me presentaré al Señor(N)
Y me postraré ante el Dios de lo alto?
¿Me presentaré delante de Él con holocaustos(O),
Con becerros de un año?
¿Se agrada el Señor de millares de carneros(P),
De miríadas de ríos de aceite?
¿Ofreceré mi primogénito por mi rebeldía(Q),
El fruto de mis entrañas por el pecado de mi alma?
Él te ha declarado(R), oh hombre, lo que es bueno.
¿Y qué es lo que demanda el Señor de ti(S),
Sino solo practicar la justicia[a](T), amar la misericordia[b](U),
Y andar humildemente con tu Dios(V)?
¶La voz del Señor clamará a la ciudad
(Prudente es temer Tu nombre):
«Escucha, oh tribu, ¿quién ha señalado su tiempo?
10 -»¿Hay todavía alguien en casa del impío
Con tesoros de impiedad(W)
Y medida[c] escasa(X) que es maldita?
11 -»¿Puedo justificar balanzas falsas(Y)
Y bolsa de pesas engañosas?
12 -»Porque los ricos de la ciudad están llenos de violencia(Z),
Sus habitantes hablan mentiras(AA)
Y su lengua es engañosa en su boca(AB).
13 -»Por eso Yo también te haré enfermar(AC), hiriéndote,
Asolándote(AD) por tus pecados.
14 -»Tú comerás, pero no te saciarás(AE),
Y tu maldad estará en medio de ti.
Apartarás, pero nada salvarás(AF),
Y lo que salves, Yo lo entregaré a la espada.
15 -»Sembrarás, pero no segarás(AG);
Pisarás la oliva, pero no te ungirás con aceite,
Y la uva, pero no beberás vino(AH).
16 -»Han sido guardados los estatutos de Omri(AI)
Y todas las obras de la casa de Acab(AJ),
Y andas en sus consejos(AK).
Por tanto te entregaré a la destrucción(AL),
Y a tus habitantes a la burla(AM).
Ustedes tendrán que soportar el oprobio de Mi pueblo(AN)».

Footnotes

  1. 6:8 O el derecho.
  2. 6:8 O lealtad.
  3. 6:10 Lit. efa; un efa equivale aprox. a 22 litros.

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

Listen to what the Lord says:

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

“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.

“My people, what have I done to you?
    How have I burdened(F) you?(G) Answer me.
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)
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.”

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)
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)
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)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—
    and to fear your name is wisdom—
    “Heed the rod(Z) and the One who appointed it.[b]
10 Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
    and the short ephah,[c] which is accursed?(AA)
11 Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,(AB)
    with a bag of false weights?(AC)
12 Your rich people are violent;(AD)
    your inhabitants are liars(AE)
    and their tongues speak deceitfully.(AF)
13 Therefore, I have begun to destroy(AG) you,
    to ruin[d] you because of your sins.
14 You will eat but not be satisfied;(AH)
    your stomach will still be empty.[e]
You will store up but save nothing,(AI)
    because what you save[f] I will give to the sword.
15 You will plant but not harvest;(AJ)
    you will press olives but not use the oil,
    you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.(AK)
16 You have observed the statutes of Omri(AL)
    and all the practices of Ahab’s(AM) house;
    you have followed their traditions.(AN)
Therefore I will give you over to ruin(AO)
    and your people to derision;
    you will bear the scorn(AP) of the nations.[g]

Footnotes

  1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently
  2. Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
  3. Micah 6:10 An ephah was a dry measure.
  4. Micah 6:13 Or Therefore, I will make you ill and destroy you; / I will ruin
  5. Micah 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  6. Micah 6:14 Or You will press toward birth but not give birth, / and what you bring to birth
  7. Micah 6:16 Septuagint; Hebrew scorn due my people