Micah 6

1 Hear now [pay attention to, listen carefully] what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Arise [stand up, rise to action], plead [contend, argue] your case [your cause, your complaint] before the mountains [the mighty ones], and let the hills [the smaller hills, the Gibeat] hear [listen, give attention to] your voice [your sound, your words]. word study 2 Hear [listen carefully, pay attention], O mountains [hills], the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] indictment [case, controversy, strife], you enduring [strong, permanent] foundations [bases, starting points] of the earth [land, ground, country]. For [because, since] the LORD [Yehovah] has a case [controversy, quarrel] against His people [nation, tribe], and He will argue [plead, rebuke, contend] it against Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people]: word study 3 ‘My people [nation], what [or how] have I done to you [or for you]? Testify against Me [answer Me, respond to My inquiry] how I have wearied [burdened, made tired] you [or caused you difficulties]! word study 4 For [as a result of my gracious actions] I brought you up [out of, from the very midst of] from the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and redeemed [ransomed, set free] you from the house [place, dwelling] of slavery [bondage, servitude, being a servant or slave]. I sent [dispatched, commissioned] Moses before you, as well as Aaron [the first high priest] and Miriam [the sister of Moses and Aaron]. word study 5 My people [nation], remember [to recall, to mark] what Balak [a foreign ruler] king of Moab [a land east of the Jordan] counseled [advised, planned] and what Balaam [a prophet] son of Beor [a man of Mesopotamia] answered [responded, sang]. Remember [to bring to mind] your journey [path, way] from Shittim [Acacia, a place of rest] to Gilgal [a region of conquest], so that you may acknowledge [know, recognize] the righteousness [justice, virtue] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God].’” word study 6 With what [how or in what manner] shall I come before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] when I bow [to bend or curve in reverence] before the God [Elohim, the supreme God] on high [in the heights, exalted]? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings [sacrifices completely consumed by fire], with year-old calves [young male cattle, nearly grown into steers]? word study 7 Would the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] be pleased [to accept, satisfied with] with thousands [a large number, a multitude] of rams [strong animals], with ten thousand [myriads of] rivers of oil [olive oil]? Shall I present [give, offer] my firstborn [the first child, holding a special status] for my transgression [rebellion, revolt against God], the fruit [the result, the outcome] of my body [my womb, my inner being] for the sin [guilt, punishment] of my soul [my living being, my essence]? word study 8 He has shown you, O man [humanity, Adam’s descendants], what is good [pleasant, beneficial]. And what does the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] require of you but to act justly [do justice, uphold righteousness], to love mercy [kindness, loving-kindness], and to walk humbly [in humility, with lowliness of mind] with your God [Elohim, your Creator]? word study 9 The voice [sound of divine speaking] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] calls out [cries unto, summons] to the city [town, place of gathering] (and it is sound wisdom [efficient wisdom] to fear [revere, stand in awe of] Your name [identity, honor, and character]): “Heed [listen to, pay attention to] the rod [staff] and the One who ordained [appointed, agreed upon] it [the rod, the instrument of correction]. word study 10 Can I forget [ignore, overlook] any longer, O house [place, dwelling] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty], the treasures [stores, riches] of wickedness [immorality, sin] and the short [scant, abhorred] ephah [unit of measurement], which is accursed [abominable, hated]? word study 11 Can I excuse [justify, tolerate] dishonest [wicked, unfair] scales [balances, weights] or bags [purses, containers] of false [deceitful, dishonest] weights [stones, measures]? word study 12 For the wealthy [rich, noble] of the city are full [filled to the brim] of violence [cruelty, injustice], and its residents [inhabitants, dwellers] speak [utter, declare] lies [deception, falsehood]; their tongues [languages, words] are deceitful [false, treacherous] in their mouths [lips, speech]. word study 13 Therefore [also, even] I am striking [to smite, making ill] you severely [with a grievous wound], to ruin [make desolate, devastate] you because of your [own, committed] sins [guilt, punishment for sin]. word study 14 You [the individual, as addressed by God] will eat [consume, devour] but not be satisfied [filled, content], and your hunger [emptiness, craving] will remain with you [in your midst, as a constant companion]. What you acquire [gain, obtain], you will not preserve [keep, protect]; and what you save [store up, reserve], I will give [deliver, entrust] to the sword [weapon, instrument of war]. word study 15 You [the one being addressed] will sow [plant seeds, scatter for growth] but not reap [harvest, gather in]; you will press olives [tread the olive tree, extract oil] but not anoint [smear, apply] yourselves with oil [olive oil, ointment]; you will tread grapes [crush, trample for wine] but not drink [consume, enjoy] the wine [fermented and intoxicating]. word study 16 You have kept [obeyed, protected] the statutes [ordinances, divine laws] of Omri and all [every, the entirety of] the practices [works, deeds] of Ahab’s house [family, dynasty]; you have followed [walked in, conformed to] their counsel [advice, plans]. Therefore I will make you a desolation [waste, ruin], and your inhabitants [residents, dwellers] an object of contempt [hissing, scorn]; you will bear [suffer, endure] the scorn [reproach, shame] of the nations [people, Gentiles]. ” word study