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What the Lord Requires

Micah 6

The Lord brings a controversy against his people, recalling how he delivered them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness, and asks what he has done to weary them. When asked what offering could satisfy the Lord, the answer given is not multiplied sacrifices but to do justice, love mercy, and walk with the Lord, and the chapter closes with judgment pronounced on a city grown rich through deceit and violence.

About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonHEAR, I beseech you, a word. The Lord God, hath commanded. Arise! come to judgment before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice!
BrentonHear now a word: the Lord God has said; Arise, plead with the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
GreekἈκούσατε δὴ λόγον· Κύριος Κύριος εἶπεν, ἀνάστηθι, κρίθητι πρὸς τὰ ὄρη, καὶ ἀκουσάτωσαν βουνοὶ φωνήν σου.
KJVHear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
JPSHear ye now what the LORD saith: Arise, contend thou before the mountains, And let the hills hear thy voice.
2
ThomsonHear, ye mountains, the controversy of the Lord! And ye valleys the foundations of the earth! For the Lord hath a controversy with His people, and with Israel He will plead:
BrentonHear ye, O mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and ye valleys even the foundations of the earth: for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and will plead with Israel.
GreekἈκούσατε ὄρη τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ αἱ φάραγγες θεμέλια τῆς γῆς, ὅτι κρίσις τῷ Κυρίῳ πρὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ διελεγχθήσεται.
KJVHear 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.
JPSHear, O ye mountains, the LORD’S controversy, And ye enduring rocks, the foundations of the earth; For the LORD hath a controversy with His people, And He will plead with Israel.
3
ThomsonO My people, what have I done to thee? Or wherein have I grieved thee? Or what molestation have I given thee? Answer Me.
BrentonO my people, what have I done to thee? or wherein have I grieved thee? or wherein have I troubled thee? answer me.
GreekΛαός μου, τί ἐποίησά σοι, ἢ τί ἐλύπησά σε, ἢ τί παρηνώχλησά σοι; ἀποκρίθητί μοι.
KJVO my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.
JPSO My people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against Me.
4
ThomsonFor I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, and sent before thee Moses and Aaron and Mariam.
BrentonFor I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, and sent before thee Moses, and Aaron, and Mariam.
GreekΔιότι ἀνήγαγόν σε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας ἐλυτρωσάμην σε, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλα πρὸ προσώπου σου τὸν Μωυσῆν, καὶ Ἀαρὼν, καὶ Μαριάμ.
KJVFor I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
JPSFor I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, And redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, And I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5
ThomsonO My people call now to remembrance what counsel Balak, king of Moab, took against thee; and what answer was made him by Balaam, son of Beor, that from Schoinon the righteousness of the Lord may be made known to Galgal:
BrentonO my people, remember now, what counsel Balac king of Moab took against thee, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, from the reeds to Galgal; that the righteousness of the Lord might be known.
GreekΛαός μου μνήσθητι δὴ, τί ἐβουλεύσατο κατὰ σοῦ Βαλὰκ βασιλεὺς Μωὰβ, καὶ τί ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ Βαλαὰμ, υἱὸς τοῦ Βεὼρ ἀπὸ τῶν σχοίνων ἕως τοῦ Γαλγὰλ, ὅπως γνωσθῇ ἡ δικαιοσύνη τοῦ Κυρίου.
KJVO my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
JPSO My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, And what Balaam the son of Beor answered him; From Shittim unto Gilgal, That ye may know the righteous acts of the LORD.
6
Thomson[Balak] “By what means shall I win over the Lord? Shall I take Him for my God most high? Shall I gain Him over by whole burnt offerings—by calves of a year old?
BrentonWherewithal shall I reach the Lord, and lay hold of my God most high? shall I reach him by whole-burnt-offerings, by calves of a year old?
GreekἘν τίνι καταλάβω τὸν Κύριον, ἀντιλήψομαι Θεοῦ μου ὑψίστου; εἰ καταλήψομαι αὐτὸν ἐν ὁλοκαυτώμασιν, ἐν μόσχοις ἐνιαυσίοις;
KJVWherewith 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?
JPS’Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt-offerings, With calves of a year old?
7
ThomsonWill the Lord accept me for thousands of rams or myriads of fat goats? Must I give my first-born for iniquity—the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
BrentonWill the Lord accept thousands of rams, or ten thousands of fat goats? should I give my first-born for ungodliness, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
GreekΕἰ προσδέξεται Κύριος ἐν χιλιάσι κριῶν; ἢ ἐν μυριάσι χιμάρων πιόνων; εἰ δῶ πρωτότοκά μου ὑπὲρ ἀσεβείας, καρπὸν κοιλίας μου ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτίας ψυχῆς μου;
KJVWill 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?
JPSWill the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, With ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’
8
Thomson[Balaam] “Must thou, O man, be told what is good? What doth the Lord require from thee, but to do justice and to love mercy, and to be prepared to walk with the Lord thy God?”
BrentonHas it not been told thee, O man, what is good? or what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justice, and love mercy, and be ready to walk with the Lord thy God?
GreekΕἰ ἀνηγγέλη σοι ἄνθρωπε τί καλόν; ἢ τί Κύριος ἐκζητεῖ παρὰ σοῦ, ἀλλʼ ἢ τοῦ ποιεῖν κρίμα, καὶ ἀγαπᾷν ἔλεον, καὶ ἕτοιμον εἶναι τοῦ πορεύεσθαι μετὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ σου;
KJVHe hath shewed 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?
JPSIt hath been told thee, O man, what is good, And what the LORD doth require of thee: Only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
9
Thomson(6) Let the voice of the Lord be proclaimed in the city and it will save them who fear His name. (J) Hear, O tribe! Who is the man that will adorn a city? Will fire, and the house of an unrighteous man?
BrentonThe Lord's voice shall be proclaimed in the city, and he shall save those that fear his name: hear, O tribe; and who shall order the city?
GreekΦωνὴ Κυρίου τῇ πόλει ἐπικληθήσεται, καὶ σώσει φοβουμένους τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ· ἄκουε φυλὴ, καὶ τίς κοσμήσει πόλιν;
KJVThe 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.
JPSHark! the LORD crieth unto the city— And it is wisdom to have regard for Thy name— Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
10
Thomson—
BrentonIs there not fire, and the house of the wicked heaping up wicked treasures, and that with the pride of unrighteousness?
GreekΜὴ πῦρ καὶ οἶκος ἀνόμου θησαυρίζων θησαυροὺς ἀνόμους, καὶ μετὰ ὕβρεως ἀδικίας;
KJVAre there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?
JPSAre there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, And the scant measure that is abominable?
11
Thomsonor false weights by a bag with which they have increased their wicked wealth?
BrentonShall the wicked be justified by the balance, or deceitful weights in the bag,
GreekΕἰ δικαιωθήσεται ἐν ζυγῷ ἄνομος, καὶ ἐν μαρσίππῳ στάθμια δόλου,
KJVShall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
JPS’Shall I be pure with wicked balances, And with a bag of deceitful weights?’
12
ThomsonAs they who inhabit it have spoken lies and their tongue hath been exalted in their mouth;
Brentonwhereby they have accumulated their ungodly wealth, and they that dwell in the city have uttered falsehoods, and their tongue has been exalted in their mouth?
Greekἐξ ὧν τὸν πλοῦτον αὐτῶν ἀσεβείας ἔπλησαν, καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες αὐτὴν ἐλάλουν ψεύδη, καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα αὐτῶν ὑψώθη ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν;
KJV—
JPS—
13
Thomsontherefore I will begin with smiting thee—I will make thee desolate for thy sins.
BrentonTherefore will I begin to smite thee; I will destroy thee in thy sins.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγὼ ἄρξομαι τοῦ πατάξαι σε, ἀφανιῶ σε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις σου.
KJVTherefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.
JPSTherefore I also do smite thee with a grievous wound; I do make thee desolate because of thy sins.
14
ThomsonThou shalt eat but shalt not be satisfied. Though darkness come and warn thee, thou shalt not escape; and if any escape, to the sword they shall be delivered up.
BrentonThou shalt eat, and shalt not be satisfied; and there shall be darkness upon thee; and he shall depart from thee, and thou shalt not escape; and all that shall escape shall be delivered over to the sword.
GreekΣὺ φάγεσαι, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐμπλησθῇς, καὶ συσκοτάσει ἐν σοὶ καὶ ἐκνεύσει, καὶ οὐ μὴ διασωθῇς, καὶ ὅσοι ἂν διασωθῶσιν, εἰς ῥομφαίαν παραδοθήσονται·
KJVThou 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.
JPSThou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; And thy sickness shall be in thine inward parts; And thou shalt conceive, but shalt not bring forth; And whomsoever thou bringest forth will I give up to the sword.
15
ThomsonThou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap. Thou shalt press the olive, but shalt not anoint thyself with oil. Thou shalt make wine, but shalt not drink it. And the ritual services of My people shall be utterly destroyed.
BrentonThou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt press the olive, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with oil; and shalt make wine, but ye shall drink no wine: and the ordinances of my people shall be utterly abolished.
GreekΣὺ σπερεῖς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀμήσῃς, σὺ πιέσεις ἐλαίαν, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀλείψῃ ἔλαιον, καὶ οἶνον, καὶ οὐ μὴ πίητε, καὶ ἀφανισθήσεται νόμιμα λαοῦ μου.
KJVThou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.
JPSThou shalt sow, but shalt not reap; Thou shalt tread the olives, but shalt not anoint thee with oil; And the vintage, but shalt not drink wine.
16
ThomsonAs thou hast kept the statutes of Zambri, and all the works of the house of Achab, and have walked in their ways, that I might deliver thee up to desolation, and the inhabitants of this city to hissing; therefore, you shall bear the reproaches of peoples.
BrentonFor thou hast kept the statutes of Zambri, and done all the works of the house of Achaab; and ye have walked in their ways, that I might deliver thee to utter destruction, and those that inhabit the city to hissing: and ye shall bear the reproach of nations.
GreekΚαὶ ἐφύλαξας τὰ δικαιώματα Ζαμβρὶ, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔργα οἴκου Ἀχαὰβ, καὶ ἐπορεύθητε ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν, ὅπως παραδῶ σε εἰς ἀφανισμὸν, καὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας αὐτὴν εἰς συρισμὸν, καὶ ὀνείδη λαῶν λήψεσθε.
KJVFor 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 an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
JPSFor the statutes of Omri are kept, And all the works of the house of Ahab, And ye walk in their counsels; That I may make thee an astonishment, And the inhabitants thereof a hissing; And ye shall bear the reproach of My people.