The Indictment of the Lord
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1Hear what the LORD says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
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2Hear, you mountains, 3the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel.
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For 6I brought you up from the land of Egypt and 7redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and 8Miriam.
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O my people, remember 9what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from 10Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know 11the saving acts of the LORD."
What Does the Lord Require?
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12"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before 13God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
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14Will the LORD be pleased witha thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? 15Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
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He has told you, O man, what is good; and 16what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness,b and to 17walk humbly with your God?
Destruction of the Wicked
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The voice of the LORD cries to the city-- and it is sound wisdom to fear 18your name: "Hear of 19the rod and of him who appointed it!c
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Can I forget any longer the treasuresd of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed?
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Shall I acquit the man 20with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?
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Youre rich men are 21full of violence; your inhabitants 22speak lies, and 23their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
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Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow, 24making you desolate because of your sins.
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25You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you; you shall put away, but not preserve, and what you preserve I will give to the sword.
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26You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)