Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith: "Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
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 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with His people, and He will plead with Israel.
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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 O My people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against Me!
3
"My people, what have I done to you? How have I tried your patience? Answer me!
4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servitude; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
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I brought you out of Egypt and freed you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
5 O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab counseled, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD."
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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 With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
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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 ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
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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 He hath shown thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
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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 LORD'S voice crieth unto the city (and the man of wisdom shall see Thy name): "Hear ye the rod and who hath appointed it!
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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 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
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I have cursed all the wicked people who use their money for evil and use inaccurate weights and measures.
11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
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I cannot tolerate dishonest scales and bags filled with inaccurate weights.
12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
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The rich people in the city are violent. Those who live in the city speak lies, and their tongues speak deceitfully.
13 Therefore also will I make thee sick by smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
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I have begun to strike you with heavy blows and to ruin you because of your sins.
14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied, and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee. And thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
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 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
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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 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and ye walk in their counsels, that I should make thee a desolation and the inhabitants thereof a hissing: Therefore ye shall bear the reproach of My people."
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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."
Third Millennium Bible (TMB), New Authorized Version, Copyright 1998 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc., Gary, SD 57237. All rights reserved.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.