5. O My people, remember nowWhat Balak king of Moab counseled,And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,From Acacia Grove to Gilgal,That you may know the righteousness 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 a year old?
7. Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,Ten thousand rivers of oil?Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8. He has shown you, O man, what is good;And what does the Lord require of youBut to do justly,To love mercy,And to walk humbly with your God?
9. The Lord’s voice cries to the city—Wisdom shall see Your name:“Hear the rod!Who has appointed it?
10. Are there yet the treasures of wickednessIn the house of the wicked,And the short measure that is an abomination?
11. Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales,And with the bag of deceitful weights?
12. For her rich men are full of violence,Her inhabitants have spoken lies,And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
13. “Therefore I will also make you sick by striking you,By making you desolate because of your sins.
14. You shall eat, but not be satisfied;Hunger shall be in your midst.You may carry some away, but shall not save them;And what you do rescue I will give over to the sword.
15. “You shall sow, but not reap;You shall tread the olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;And make sweet wine, but not drink wine.
16. For the statutes of Omri are kept;All the works of Ahab’s house are done;And you walk in their counsels,That I may make you a desolation,And your inhabitants a hissing.Therefore you shall bear the reproach of My people.”