Micah 6 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

Listen to what Yahweh is saying. Get up. Make your case in front of the mountains. Let the hills hear your voice.

Mountains, hear Yahweh's case, and you, old foundations of the earth. Yahweh has a case against his people. He is going to argue it out with Israel.

My people, what did I do to you? How did I wear you out? Answer me.

I brought you up out of Egypt. I bought you back out of the house of slaves. I sent Moses ahead of you, and Aaron, and Miriam.

My people, remember what Balak king of Moab was plotting, and what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened between Shittim and Gilgal, so you will know the right things Yahweh has done.

What do I bring when I come to Yahweh, when I bend low in front of the God on high? Do I come with animals burned whole, with calves a year old?

Will Yahweh be happy with a thousand rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Do I hand over my firstborn for the way I turned on him, the child of my own body for what I have done wrong?

He has told you, human being, what is good. And what is Yahweh asking of you? Only this: do what is just, love loyalty, and walk with your God, low to the ground.

Yahweh's voice is calling out to the city, and there is sense in fearing his name. Pay attention to the rod, and to whoever appointed it.

Am I still to overlook, in the house of the crooked man, the treasure he piled up by cheating, and the grain basket shaved thin, which I hate?

Can I call a man clean when he works with crooked scales, when his bag is full of weights that lie?

Her rich men are stuffed with violence. Her people speak lies. Their tongues are a trick in their mouths.

So I have started to strike you, laying you waste for the ways you have failed.

You will eat and never be full. The hollow stays inside you. You will put things away and keep none of it, and what you do keep I will hand to the sword.

You will plant and not harvest. You will press olives and never rub the oil on your skin, crush grapes and never drink the wine.

You have kept the rules Omri laid down and everything the house of Ahab did, and you have walked by their advice. So I will hand you over to ruin, and the people of your city to whistling scorn, and you will carry the contempt my people earned.