Micah 6:1-8

1Now listen to what the Lord says: ‘Stand up! Explain in front of the mountains what I want to say. Speak loud so that the hills can hear your voice.

2Listen, you mountains. Hear this, you strong places that have always been there deep in the earth. The Lord has a quarrel with Israel's people. Hear the reasons why the Lord is angry with you, his people.’

3‘My people, what bad thing have I done to you?’ God asks. ‘How have I made you tired of me? Answer me.

4I brought you out of Egypt. You were slaves in that country, but I made you free people. I sent Moses to lead you, and Aaron and Miriam with him.

5My people, please remember the bad things that King Balak of Moab tried to do. And remember what Balaam, Beor's son, answered him. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal. Then you will remember that I, the Lord, do good things.’

6‘I come to meet with the Lord,’ you say. ‘I must know what to bring when I come. I bend down to worship him. I must know what to offer when I bend down. He is God and he is greater than everything. Perhaps he would like it if I burn young cows one year old for him.

7He might be happy with thousands of male sheep, or ten thousand rivers of olive oil. I have not obeyed God. I might even kill and burn my oldest son, because of that. I have done wrong things and I must pay God for that. Perhaps, if I give my own child to him, that will be enough to pay.’

8But God has told us what is good. This is what the Lord wants from us: ‘You must be fair to other people,’ God says. ‘You must want to be kind. And you must be careful to do what I show you.’