1 ARST Pay attention to what Yahweh will say: Micah says to Yahweh,“Stand up in court and accuse the Israelites. Allow the hills and mountains to hear what you will say. BSB BSB: Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
2 ARST The mountains must listen carefully to what Yahweh says about his people, so they can be witnesses. Indeed, Yahweh has many things to accuse his people Israel about. BSB BSB: Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel:
3 ARST He says this:“My people, what have I done to cause trouble for you? What have I done to cause you to experience difficulties? Answer me! BSB BSB: ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you!
4 ARST I did great things for your ancestors; I brought them out of Egypt; I rescued them from that land where they were slaves. I sent Moses to lead them, and his older brother Aaron and his older sister Miriam. BSB BSB: For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.
5 ARST My people, think about when Balak, the king of Moab, requested Beor’ s son Balaam to curse your ancestors, and think about what Balaam replied. Think about how your ancestors crossed the Jordan River miraculously while they were traveling from Acacia to Gilgal. Think about those things in order that you may know that I, Yahweh, do what is right.” BSB BSB: My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
6 ARST The Israelite people ask,“What shall we bring to Yahweh who lives in heaven when we come to him and bow down before him? Should we bring calves that are a year old that will be offerings that will be killed and completely burned on the altar? BSB BSB: With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
7 ARST Would Yahweh be pleased if we offered to him a thousand rams and ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should we offer our firstborn children to be sacrifices to pay for the sins that we have committed?” BSB BSB: Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
9 ARST God says this:“I am Yahweh, so if you are wise, you should honor me. I am calling out to you people of Jerusalem to tell you this: The armies that will destroy your city are coming, so pay careful attention to me, the one who is causing them to punish you with my rod. BSB BSB: The voice of the LORD calls out to the city (and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name): “Heed the rod and the One who ordained it.
10 ARST You wicked people have filled your homes with valuable things that you acquired by cheating others. You use false measures when you buy and sell things. Those are things that I hate. BSB BSB: Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?
11 ARST You do not think that I should say nothing about people who use scales that do not weigh correctly, and who use weights that are not accurate, do you? BSB BSB: Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?
12 ARST The rich people among you always act violently to get money from poor people. All of the people in Jerusalem are liars, and they always deceive people. BSB BSB: For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.
13 ARST Therefore, I have already begun to get rid of you, to ruin you because of the sins that you have committed. BSB BSB: Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.
14 ARST Soon you will eat food, but you will not have enough to satisfy you; your stomachs will still feel as though they are empty. You will try to save up money, but you will be able to save nothing, because I will send your enemies to take it from you in wars. BSB BSB: You will eat but not be satisfied, and your hunger will remain with you. What you acquire, you will not preserve; and what you save, I will give to the sword.
15 ARST You will plant crops, but you will not harvest anything. You will press olives, but others, not you, will use the olive oil. You will trample on the grapes and make wine from the juice, but others, not you, will drink the wine. BSB BSB: You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.
16 ARST Those things will happen to you because you obey only the wicked laws of King Omri, and you do the terrible things that King Ahab and his descendants commanded. So I will destroy your country, and I will cause the other people groups to despise you, my own people.” BSB BSB: You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”