The LORD's Controversy with Israel

61 Hear now what the Lord is saying , "Arise , plead your case before the mountains , And let the hills hear your voice . 2 "Listen , you mountains , to the indictment of the Lord , And you enduring foundations of the earth , Because the Lord has a case against His people ; Even with Israel He will dispute . 3 " My people , what have I done to you, And how have I wearied you? Answer Me. 4 "Indeed , I brought you up from the land of Egypt And ransomed you from the house of slavery , 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, And from Shittim to Gilgal , So that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord ."

What the LORD Requires

6 With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high ? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings , With yearling calves ? 7 Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams , In ten thousand rivers of oil ? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts , The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul ? 8 He has told you, O man , what is good ; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice , to love kindness , And to walk humbly with your God ?

9 The voice of the Lord will call to the city - And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name : "Hear , O tribe . Who has appointed its time? 10 "Is there yet a man in the wicked house , Along with treasures of wickedness And a short measure that is cursed ? 11 "Can I justify wicked scales And a bag of deceptive weights ? 12 "For the rich men of the city are full of violence , Her residents speak lies , And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth . 13 "So also I will make you sick , striking you down , Desolating you because of your sins . 14 "You will eat , but you will not be satisfied , And your vileness will be in your midst . You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword . 15 "You will sow but you will not reap . You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil ; And the grapes , but you will not drink wine . 16 "The statutes of Omri And all the works of the house of Ahab are observed ; And in their devices you walk . Therefore I will give you up for destruction And your inhabitants for derision , And you will bear the reproach of My people ."

Israel's Leaders Denounced

31 And I said , " Hear now , heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel . Is it not for you to know justice ? 2 "You who hate good and love evil , Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones , 3 Who eat the flesh of my people , Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones And chop them up as for the pot And as meat in a kettle ." 4 Then they will cry out to the Lord , But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds . 5 Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray ; When they have something to bite with their teeth , They cry , "Peace ," But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war . 6 Therefore it will be night for you-without vision , And darkness for you-without divination . The sun will go down on the prophets , And the day will become dark over them. 7 The seers will be ashamed And the diviners will be embarrassed . Indeed, they will all cover their mouths Because there is no answer from God .

8 On the other hand I am filled with power - With the Spirit of the Lord - And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act , Even to Israel his sin . 9 Now hear this , heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel , Who abhor justice And twist everything that is straight , 10 Who build Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with violent injustice . 11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe , Her priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money . Yet they lean on the Lord saying , " Is not the Lord in our midst ? Calamity will not come upon us." 12 Therefore , on account of you Zion will be plowed as a field , Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins , And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest .