¹Listen now to what Yahweh says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say. ²Hear, you mountains, Yahweh’s controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. ³My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me! ⁴For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. ⁵My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Yahweh.” ⁶How shall I come before Yahweh, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? ⁷Will Yahweh be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ⁸He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? ⁹Yahweh’s voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: “Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it. ¹⁰Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed? ¹¹Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights? ¹²Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech. ¹³Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.