God's New Revelations

The Prophet Micah

Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 6 -

1
Pay attention to what Yahweh will say: Micah says to Yahweh, “Stand up in court and accuse the Israelites. Allow the hills and mountains to hear what you will say.
2
The mountains must listen carefully to what Yahweh says about his people, so they can be witnesses. Indeed, Yahweh has many things to accuse his people Israel about.
3
He says this: “My people, what have I done to cause trouble for you? What have I done to cause you to experience difficulties? Answer me!
4
I did great things for your ancestors; I brought them out of Egypt; I rescued them from that land where they were slaves. I sent Moses to lead them, and his older brother Aaron and his older sister Miriam.
5
My people, think about when Balak, the king of Moab, requested Beor’s son Balaam to curse your ancestors, and think about what Balaam replied. Think about how your ancestors crossed the Jordan River miraculously while they were traveling from Acacia to Gilgal. Think about those things in order that you may know that I, Yahweh, do what is right.”
6
The Israelite people ask, “What shall we bring to Yahweh who lives in heaven when we come to him and bow down before him? Should we bring calves that are a year old that will be offerings that will be killed and completely burned on the altar?
7
Would Yahweh be pleased if we offered to him a thousand rams and ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should we offer our firstborn children to be sacrifices to pay for the sins that we have committed?”
8
No, because he has shown each of us what is good to do; he has shown us what he requires each of us to do: He wants us to do what is just and to love to act mercifully toward others, and he wants us to live humbly while we fellowship with him, our God.

The Punishment of Israel

9
God says this: “I am Yahweh, so if you are wise, you should honor me. I am calling out to you people of Jerusalem to tell you this: The armies that will destroy your city are coming, so pay careful attention to me, the one who is causing them to punish you with my rod.
10
You wicked people have filled your homes with valuable things that you acquired by cheating others. You use false measures when you buy and sell things. Those are things that I hate.
11
You do not think that I should say nothing about people who use scales that do not weigh correctly, and who use weights that are not accurate, do you?
12
The rich people among you always act violently to get money from poor people. All of the people in Jerusalem are liars, and they always deceive people.
13
Therefore, I have already begun to get rid of you, to ruin you because of the sins that you have committed.
14
Soon you will eat food, but you will not have enough to satisfy you; your stomachs will still feel as though they are empty. You will try to save up money, but you will be able to save nothing, because I will send your enemies to take it from you in wars.
15
You will plant crops, but you will not harvest anything. You will press olives, but others, not you, will use the olive oil. You will trample on the grapes and make wine from the juice, but others, not you, will drink the wine.
16
Those things will happen to you because you obey only the wicked laws of King Omri, and you do the terrible things that King Ahab and his descendants commanded. So I will destroy your country, and I will cause the other people groups to despise you, my own people.”
1
Listen now to what the LORD says:Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
2
Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s indictment, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel.
3
My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!
4
For 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.
5
My 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 the LORD.”
6
How shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7
Will the LORD 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?
8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does the LORD require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Punishment of Israel

9
The LORD’s voice calls to the city and wisdom fears your nameListen to the rod, and he who appointed it.
10
Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah(a) that is accursed?
11
Shall I tolerate dishonest scales, and a bag of deceitful weights?
12
Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.
13
Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.
14
You shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your hunger will be within you. You will store up, but not save, and that which you save I will give up to the sword.
15
You will sow, but won’t reap. You will tread the olives, but won’t anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won’t drink the wine.
16
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of Ahab’s house. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and your inhabitants a hissing. You will bear the reproach of my people.”

Footnotes

(a)6:10 An ephah is a measure of volume (about 22 liters or about 2/3 of a bushel), and a short ephah is made smaller than a full ephah for the purpose of cheating customers.