| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Now listen to what the LORD is saying: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. | 1Please hear what the LORD says: "Get up and make your case before the mountains, and let the hills listen to your voice. |
| 2Listen to the LORD's lawsuit, you mountains and enduring foundations of the earth, because the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel. | 2Listen, you mountains, to the LORD's argument! Listen, you strong foundations of the earth, because the LORD has a dispute with his people, and he will set out his case before Israel. |
| 3My people, what have I done to you, or how have I wearied you? Testify against Me! | 3"My people, what have I done to you, and how have I offended you? Answer me! |
| 4Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam ahead of you. | 4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and ransomed you from the house of slavery, sending Moses, Aaron, and Miriam into your presence. |
| 5My people, remember what Balak king of Moab proposed, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from the Acacia Grove to Gilgal so that you may acknowledge the LORD's righteous acts. | 5"My people, recall how king Balak of Moab deliberated, and how Beor's son Balaam counseled him from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may know the righteousness of the LORD." |
| 6What should I bring before the LORD when I come to bow before God on high? Should I come before Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? | 6How am I to present myself in the LORD's presence and bow in the presence of the High God? Should I present myself with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? |
| 7Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the child of my body for my own sin? | 7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with endless rivers of oil? Am I to give my firstborn to pay for my rebellion, the fruit of my body in exchange for my soul? |
| 8Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. | 8He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the LORD is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the LORD's gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God. |
| 9The voice of Yahweh calls out to the city (and it is wise to fear Your name):" Pay attention to the rod and the One who ordained it. | 9The voice of the LORD cries out to the city— wisdom fears your name: "Heed the rod, and the one who prepared it! |
| 10Are there still the treasures of wickedness and the accursed short measure in the house of the wicked? | 10Are there still wicked treasures in the house of the wicked, along with deceitful and abominable measuring standards? |
| 11Can I excuse wicked scales or bags of deceptive weights? | 11Will I tolerate those who maintain deceptive standards and who use deceitful weights in their business? |
| 12For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful." | 12Her rich people are filled with violence, and her inhabitants tell lies— their tongues speak deceitfully! |
| 13As a result, I have begun to strike you severely, bringing desolation because of your sins. | 13"Therefore I will make you ill when I attack you; I will bring you to ruin because of your offenses. |
| 14You will eat but not be satisfied, for there will be hunger within you. What you acquire, you cannot save, and what you do save, I will give to the sword. | 14You'll eat, but you won't have enough; and hunger will be common among you. You'll horde things, but you won't save them, and what you preserve I'll give over to the sword. |
| 15You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourself with oil; and you will tread grapes but not drink the wine. | 15You'll plant, but you won't reap. You'll crush the olive harvest, but you'll have no oil to anoint yourself. You'll tread out the grapes, but you'll never drink wine. |
| 16The statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab's house have been observed; you have followed their policies. Therefore, I will make you a desolate place and the city's residents an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of My people." | 16You keep Omri's statutes and observe the customs of the house of Ahab. Because you live according to their advice, I'll make you desolate and turn your inhabitants into an object of scorn. Therefore you will bear the shame of my people." |
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