Micah 7:3–4

3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;

the ruler demands gifts,

the judge accepts bribes,

the powerful dictate what they desire—

they all conspire together.

4 The best of them is like a brier,

the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.

The day God visits you has come,

the day your watchmen sound the alarm.

Now is the time of your confusion.

3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly,

The prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward;

And the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire:

So they wrap it up.

4 The best of them is as a brier:

The most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge:

The day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh;

Now shall be their perplexity.

3 Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil!

Officials and judges alike demand bribes.

The people with influence get what they want,

and together they scheme to twist justice.

4 Even the best of them is like a brier;

the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns.

But your judgment day is coming swiftly now.

Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.

3 That they may successfully do evil with both hands—

The prince asks for gifts,

The judge seeks a bribe,

And the great man utters his evil desire;

So they scheme together.

4 The best of them is like a brier;

The most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge;

The day of your watchman and your punishment comes;

Now shall be their perplexity.

3 With both hands they are doing evil.

Rulers ask for money,

and judges’ decisions are bought for a price.

Rich people tell what they want,

and they get it.

4 Even the best of them is like a thornbush;

the most honest of them is worse than a prickly plant.

The day that your watchmen warned you about has come.

Now they will be confused.

3 Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together. 4 The best of them is as a brier; the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen, even thy visitation, is come; now shall be their perplexity.

3 Both hands are for evil, to do it well. The prince asketh, and the judge is there for a reward; and the great man uttereth his soul’s greed: and together they combine it. 4 The best of them is as a briar; the most upright, worse than a thorn-fence. The day of thy watchmen, thy visitation is come; now shall be their perplexity.

3 Their hands are skilled in doing evil. 

Officials ask for gifts. 

Judges accept bribes. 

Powerful people dictate what they want. 

So they scheme together. 

4 The best of them is like a briar. 

The most decent person is sharper than thornbushes. 

The day you thought you would be punished has come. 

Now is the time you will be confused. 

3 Both hands are good at accomplishing evil:

the official and the judge demand a bribe;

when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,

they plot it together.

4 The best of them is like a brier;

the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.

The day of your watchmen,

the day of your punishment, is coming;

at this time their panic is here.

3 Their hands are skilled to do evil;

the official and the judge ask for a bribe,

and the powerful dictate what they desire;

thus they pervert justice.

4 The best of them is like a brier,

the most upright of them a thorn hedge.

The day of their sentinels, of their punishment, has come;

now their confusion is at hand.

3 Their hands are upon evil, to do it well;

the official and the judge ask for the bribe,

and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;

and they weave it together.

4 The best of them is like a brier;

the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.

The day of your watchman, your punishment, has come;

now their confusion will come.

3 They are very good at doing what is evil.

Rulers require gifts.

Judges accept money from people

who want special favors.

Those who are powerful

always get what they want.

All of them make evil plans together.

4 The best of them are as harmful as thorns.

The most honest of them are even worse.

The time your prophets warned you about has come.

God is about to punish you.

Panic has taken hold of you.

3 Concerning evil, both hands do it well.

The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,

And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;

So they weave it together.

4 The best of them is like a briar,

The most upright like a thorn hedge.

The day when you post your watchmen,

Your punishment will come.

Then their confusion will occur.