Micah 6; Micah 7

Micah 6

1 Now listen to what the LORD is saying, "Stand up! Plead your case in front of the mountains, and let the hills listen to your request.

2 Listen to the LORD's lawsuit, you mountains. Listen, you strong foundations of the earth. The LORD has filed a lawsuit against his people. He is arguing his case against Israel.

3 "My people, what have I done to you? How have I tried your patience? Answer me!

4 I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.

5 My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned [to do to you] and how Balaam, son of Beor, responded to him. Remember [your journey] from Shittim to Gilgal so that you may know the victories of the LORD."

6 What should I bring when I come into the LORD's presence, when I bow in front of the God of heaven? Should I bring him year-old calves as burnt offerings?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or with endless streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child because of my rebellious acts? Should I give him my young child for my sin?

8 You mortals, the LORD has told you what is good. This is what the LORD requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God.

9 The voice of the LORD calls out to the city. (The fear of your name is wisdom.) "Listen, you tribe assembled in the city.

10 I have cursed all the wicked people who use their money for evil and use inaccurate weights and measures.

11 I cannot tolerate dishonest scales and bags filled with inaccurate weights.

12 The rich people in the city are violent. Those who live in the city speak lies, and their tongues speak deceitfully.

13 I have begun to strike you with heavy blows and to ruin you because of your sins.

14 You will eat, but you won't be full. So you will always be hungry. You will put things away, but you won't save them. Anything you save I will destroy.

15 You will plant, but you won't harvest. You will crush olives, but you won't rub the oil on your skin. You will make new wine, but you won't drink it.

16 You have kept Omri's laws and all the practices of the descendants of Ahab, and you have followed their advice. That is why I will ruin you. Your people will be ridiculed. You will bear the disgrace of my people."

Micah 7

1 Poor me! I am like those gathering summer fruit, like those picking grapes. But there aren't any grapes to eat or any ripened figs that I crave.

2 Faithful people are gone from the earth, and no one is decent. All people lie in ambush to commit murder. They trap each other with nets.

3 Their hands are skilled in doing evil. Officials ask for gifts. Judges accept bribes. Powerful people dictate what they want. So they scheme together.

4 The best of them is like a briar. The most decent person is sharper than thornbushes. The day you thought you would be punished has come. Now is the time you will be confused.

5 Don't trust your neighbors. Don't have confidence in [your] friends. Keep your mouth shut even when a woman is lying in your arms.

6 A son treats his father with contempt. A daughter rebels against her mother. A daughter-in-law rebels against her mother-in-law. People's enemies are the members of their own families.

7 I will look to the LORD. I will wait for God to save me. I will wait for my God to listen to me.

8 Don't laugh at me, my enemies. Although I've fallen, I will get up. Although I sit in the dark, the LORD is my light.

9 I have sinned against the LORD. So I will endure his fury until he takes up my cause and wins my case. He will bring me into the light, and I will see his victory.

10 Then my enemies will see this, and they will be covered with shame, because they asked me, "Where is the LORD your God?" Now I look at them. They are trampled like mud in the streets.

11 The day for rebuilding your walls and extending your borders is coming.

12 When that day comes, your people will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, from Egypt to the Euphrates River, from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

13 The earth will become a wasteland for those who live on it because of what the people living there have done.

14 With your shepherd's staff, take care of your people, the sheep that belong to you. They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead like before.

15 Let us see miracles like the time you came out of Egypt.

16 Nations will see this and be ashamed in spite of all their strength. They will put their hands over their mouths. Their ears will become deaf.

17 They will lick dust like snakes, like animals that crawl on the ground. They will come out of their hiding places trembling. They will turn away from your presence in fear, O LORD our God. They will be afraid of you.

18 Who is a God like you? You forgive sin and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people. You will not be angry forever, because you would rather show mercy.

19 You will again have compassion on us. You will overcome our wrongdoing. You will throw all our sins into the deep sea.

20 You will be faithful to Jacob. You will have mercy on Abraham as you swore by an oath to our ancestors long ago.