1 Hear now what the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge} is saying; arise, contend before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice {qolekha: formal testimony}.
2 Hear, O mountains, the dispute {riv: legal case} of the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Accuser}, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a dispute with His people, and with Israel He will contend.
3 My people, what have I {YHWH, Divine Judge} done to you, and in what way have I wearied you {heleetikha: caused weariness}? Answer me; speak against me.
4 For I {YHWH, Covenant Redeemer} brought you up from the land of Egypt, and from the house {beit: place of bondage} of slavery I redeemed you; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab counseled, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, in order that you may know the righteous acts {tsidqôt: acts of justice} of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Defender}.
6 With what shall I approach the LORD {YHWH, Worship Receiver}, and bow down before God of heights {elohei marom, Transcendent Sovereign}? Will burnt offerings {olot: whole offerings} or calves one year old suffice?
7 Will the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} delight in thousands of rams, or in ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression {pish'i: rebellious act}, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has made known to you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Standard-Giver} seek from you except to do justice, to love loyal love {ḥe-seḏ: steadfast devotion}, and to walk humbly with your God {Elohim, Covenant Companion}?
9 The voice of the LORD {YHWH, Just Judge} calls to the city, and wisdom {tushiyyah: sound judgment} looks to your name. Hear the rod and the one who appointed it.
10 Are there still the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a scant ephah {eifat: ancient grain measure} that is accursed {zeumah: ritually defiled}?
11 Shall I declare innocent the one with wicked balances {moznei: unjust measures} and with a bag of deceitful weights {avnei: fraudulent implements}?
12 Her rich men are filled with violence {hamas: harmful oppression}; her inhabitants have spoken falsehood, and their tongue is deceit {remiyyah: intentional misleading} in their mouth.
13 And I {YHWH, Divine Judge} also have made you sick by striking you, making you desolate because of your sins {chattotekha: moral failure}.
14 You will eat, yet you will not be satisfied, and hunger {yeshakha: inner emptiness} will dwell within you; you will remove, yet you will not rescue, and whatever you rescue I {YHWH, Judge} will consign to the sword.
15 You will sow, but you will not harvest; you will tread olives, but you will not anoint yourself with oil {shemen: pressed olive extract}; you will tread grapes for new wine {tirosh: fresh grape must}, but you will not drink wine.
16 You have kept the statutes {chukot: decrees} of Omri and all the deeds of the house of Ahab, and you walk in their counsels; therefore I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} will make you a desolation and her inhabitants a hissing, and you shall bear the reproach {cherpat: ignominy} of my people.