Bible Gateway passage: Micah 6 - New International Version (2024)

The Lord’s Case Against Israel

6Listen to what the Lord says:

“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;^(A)
let the hills hear what you have to say.

²“Hear,^(B) you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;^(C)
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case^(D) against his people;
he is lodging a charge^(E) against Israel.

³“My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened^(F) you?^(G) Answer me.
⁴I brought you up out of Egypt^(H)
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.^(I)
I sent Moses^(J) to lead you,
also Aaron^(K) and Miriam.^(L)
5My people, remember
what Balak^(M) king of Moab plotted
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from sh*ttim^(N) to Gilgal,^(O)
that you may know the righteous acts^(P) of the Lord.”

⁶With what shall I come before^(Q) the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?^(R)
7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,^(S)
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?^(T)
Shall I offer my firstborn^(U) for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?^(V)
8He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly^(W) and to love mercy
and to walk humbly^[a](X) with your God.^(Y)

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

⁹Listen! The Lord is calling to the city—
and to fear your name is wisdom—
“Heed the rod^(Z) and the One who appointed it.^[b]
10Am I still to forget your ill-gotten treasures, you wicked house,
and the short ephah,^[c] which is accursed?^(AA)
11Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales,^(AB)
with a bag of false weights?^(AC)
12Your rich people are violent;^(AD)
your inhabitants are liars^(AE)
and their tongues speak deceitfully.^(AF)
13Therefore, I have begun to destroy^(AG) you,
to ruin^[d] you because of your sins.
¹⁴You will eat but not be satisfied;^(AH)
your stomach will still be empty.^[e]
You will store up but save nothing,^(AI)
because what you save^[f] I will give to the sword.
¹⁵You will plant but not harvest;^(AJ)
you will press olives but not use the oil,
you will crush grapes but not drink the wine.^(AK)
16You have observed the statutes of Omri^(AL)
and all the practices of Ahab’s^(AM) house;
you have followed their traditions.^(AN)
Therefore I will give you over to ruin^(AO)
and your people to derision;
you will bear the scorn^(AP) of the nations.^[g]”

Footnotes

1. Micah 6:8 Or prudently
2. Micah 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
3. Micah 6:10 An ephah was a dry measure.
4. Micah 6:13 Or Therefore, I will make you ill and destroy you; / I will ruin
5. Micah 6:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
6. Micah 6:14 Or You will press toward birth but not give birth, / and what you bring to birth
7. Micah 6:16 Septuagint; Hebrew scorn due my people

Cross references

1. Micah 6:1 : S Ps 50:1; S Eze 6:2
2. Micah 6:2 : Dt 32:1
3. Micah 6:2 : S Hos 12:2
4. Micah 6:2 : S Isa 3:13
5. Micah 6:2 : Ps 50:7; S Jer 2:9
6. Micah 6:3 : Jer 2:5
7. Micah 6:3 : Jer 2:5
8. Micah 6:4 : S Ex 3:10; S 6:6
9. Micah 6:4 : Dt 7:8
10. Micah 6:4 : S Ex 4:16
11. Micah 6:4 : S Nu 33:1; Ps 77:20
12. Micah 6:4 : S Ex 15:20
13. Micah 6:5 : S Nu 22:2
14. Micah 6:5 : S Nu 25:1
15. Micah 6:5 : S Dt 11:30; Jos 5:9-10
16. Micah 6:5 : Jdg 5:11; 1Sa 12:7
17. Micah 6:6 : S Ps 95:2
18. Micah 6:6 : Ps 40:6-8; 51:16-17
19. Micah 6:7 : S Isa 1:11; S 40:16
20. Micah 6:7 : Ps 50:8-10
21. Micah 6:7 : S Lev 18:21; S 2Ki 3:27
22. Micah 6:7 : Hos 5:6; S Am 5:22
23. Micah 6:8 : S Isa 1:17; S Jer 22:3
24. Micah 6:8 : S 2Ki 22:19; S Isa 57:15
25. Micah 6:8 : S Ge 5:22; Dt 10:12-13; 1Sa 15:22; Hos 6:6; Zec 7:9-10; Mt 9:13; 23:23; Mk 12:33; Lk 11:42
26. Micah 6:9 : S Ge 17:1; Isa 11:4
27. Micah 6:10 : Eze 45:9-10; S Am 3:10; 8:4-6
28. Micah 6:11 : S Lev 19:36
29. Micah 6:11 : S Dt 25:13
30. Micah 6:12 : S Isa 1:23
31. Micah 6:12 : S Ps 116:11; Isa 3:8
32. Micah 6:12 : S Ps 35:20; S Jer 9:3
33. Micah 6:13 : Isa 1:7; 6:11
34. Micah 6:14 : S Isa 9:20; S Hos 4:10
35. Micah 6:14 : Isa 30:6
36. Micah 6:15 : S Dt 28:38; Jer 12:13
37. Micah 6:15 : Job 24:11; S Am 5:11; Zep 1:13
38. Micah 6:16 : S 1Ki 16:25
39. Micah 6:16 : 1Ki 16:29-33
40. Micah 6:16 : Jer 7:24
41. Micah 6:16 : S Jer 25:9
42. Micah 6:16 : S Dt 28:37; S Jer 51:51; S Mic 2:6