1 Hear you now what יהוה saith: “Arise, contend you before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear you, O mountains, יהוה’s controversy, and you strong foundations of the earth; for יהוה hath a controversy with His people, and He will plead with Yisrael.
3 O My people, what have I done unto you? And wherein have I wearied you? Testify against Me.
4 For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and redeemed you out of the house of servants; and I sent before you Moses (Mosheh), Aaron (Aharon), and Miryam.
5 O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilga, that you may know the righteousness of יהוה.”
6 Wherewith shall I come before יהוה, and bow myself before the God (Elohim) on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will יהוה 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?
8 He hath shewed you, O man, what is good; and what doth יהוה require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God (Elohim)?
9 יהוה’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see Your name: “Hear, O tribe, and who hath appointed it?
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13 Therefore also will I make you sick in smiting you, in making you desolate because of your sins.
14 You shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and your casting down shall be in the midst of you; and you shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which you deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15 You shalt sow, but you shalt not reap; you shalt tread the olives, but you shalt not anoint you with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Achav, and you walk in their counsels, that I should make you a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing; therefore you shall bear the reproach of My people.”