Micah 6

Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Listen to what God is saying; stand up, make your case before the mountains, and let your voice echo across the hills.

Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

Listen closely, mighty mountains and solid foundations of the earth, for God has a case against His people. He will bring His charges against Israel.

O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.

My dear people, what wrong have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Please, speak up against me.

For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

I rescued you from Egypt's chains, freeing you from slavery. I guided you with Moses, Aaron, and Miriam leading the way.

O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

My dear ones, remember what Balak, the king of Moab, planned, and how Balaam son of Beor answered him, and remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal. This will help you understand the Lord's fairness and justice.

Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?

How can I approach the Lord, humbly standing before the Almighty God? Should I present Him with sacrifices, with year-old calves?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my wrongdoing, my own child for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

God has shown you, my friend, what is truly good. All He asks of you is to act fairly, show kindness, and walk modestly with Him.

The LORD’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.

God's voice echoes in the city, and those with wisdom will honor His name. Pay attention to the rod of punishment, and to the One who has appointed it.

Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?

Does the wicked's house still hold ill-gotten gains, and the detestable practice of cheating?

Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?

Should I consider them innocent when they use dishonest scales and deceptive measures?

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

The wealthy there are brimming with aggression, the people are steeped in dishonesty, and their words are laced with deceit.

Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

Because of your sins, I have begun to strike you down hard and leave you in ruins.

Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.

You will eat, but still feel hungry; your downfall will happen right before your eyes. You will try to save, but fail; and what you manage to save, I will surrender to destruction.

Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

You'll plant seeds, but won't enjoy the harvest; you'll press olives, but won't use the oil; you'll make wine, but won't taste its sweetness.

For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

You're following the rules set by Omri and Ahab's deeds, guided by their advice. This will lead to your ruin and make you a laughingstock. As a result, you'll carry the shame of my people.