6:1 Listen to what the Lord says:
“Get up! Defend yourself
Present your case before the hills!”
6:2 Hear the Lord’s accusation, you mountains,
you enduring foundations of the earth!
For the Lord has a case against his people;
he has a dispute with Israel!
6:3 “My people, how have I wronged you?
How have I wearied you? Answer me!
6:4 In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
I delivered you from that place of slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
6:5 My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you,
how Balaam son of Beor responded to him.
Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal,
so you might acknowledge that the Lord has treated you fairly.”
6:6 With what should I
With what
Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings,
with year-old calves?
6:7 Will the Lord accept a thousand rams,
or ten thousand streams of olive oil?
Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion,
my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin?
6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good,
and what the Lord really wants from you:
He wants you to
and to live obediently before
6:9 Listen! The Lord is calling
It is wise to respect your authority, O Lord!
Listen, O nation, and those assembled in the city!
6:10 “I will not overlook,
or the smaller-than-standard measure I hate so much.
6:11 I do not condone the use of rigged scales,
or a bag of deceptive weights.
6:12 The city’s rich men think nothing of resorting to violence;
her inhabitants lie,
their tongues speak deceptive words.
6:13 I will strike you brutally
and destroy you because of your sin.
6:14 You will eat, but not be satisfied.
Even if you have the strength
you will not be able to carry it away;
if you do happen to carry away something,
I will deliver it over to the sword.
6:15 You will plant crops, but will not harvest them;
you will squeeze oil from the olives,
you will squeeze juice from the grapes, but you will have no wine to drink.