The Case against Israel 1 ULT Hear, please, what Yahweh is saying,“Arise, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.” BSB BSB: Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
2 ULT Hear the dispute of Yahweh, mountains, and permanent foundations of the earth, for a dispute{ is} to Yahweh with his people, and with Israel he will argue, 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 ULT “My people, what have I done to you, and how have I wearied you? Testify against me! BSB BSB: ‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you!
4 ULT For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and from the house of slaves I redeemed you, and I sent to your face Moses, Aaron, and 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 ULT My people, please remember what Balak, king of Moab, counseled, and what Balaam, son of Beor, answered him, from Shittim to Gilgal, in order to know the righteousnesses of Yahweh.” 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 ULT With what shall I come before Yahweh, bow down to the God of the height? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves, sons of a year? 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 ULT Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn{ for} my transgression, the fruit of my belly{ for} the sin of my soul? 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?
The Punishment of Israel 9 ULT The voice of Yahweh calls to the city—(and sound wisdom fears your name), Hear, tribe and whoever he appointed! 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 ULT “Are there still{ in} the house of the wicked treasuries of wickedness, and the ephah of leanness{ that is} cursed? BSB BSB: Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?
11 ULT Would I be innocent with scales of wickedness, and with a bag of stones of deceit? BSB BSB: Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?
12 ULT — which her rich are full of violence, and her inhabitants speak falsehood, and their tongue{ is} deceit in their mouth. 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 ULT And even I, I will make sick the striking of you, devastating{ you} because of your sins. BSB BSB: Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.
14 ULT You, you will eat but not be satisfied, for dysentery{ will be} inside you. And you will bring to safety but not deliver, and what you do deliver, I will give to the sword. 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 ULT You, you will sow but not reap; you, you will tread the olive but not anoint{ yourself}{ with} oil; and— new wine but not drink 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 ULT For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all of the deeds of the house of Ahab; and you have walked in their counsels, so that I will make you a desolation, and her inhabitants a hissing, and the reproach of my people you will bear.” 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.”