Micah 3:8–12

But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the Spirit of the Lord,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression

and to Israel his sin.

Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob

and rulers of the house of Israel,

who detest justice

and make crooked all that is straight,

who build Zion with blood

and Jerusalem with iniquity.

Its heads give judgment for a bribe;

its priests teach for a price;

its prophets practice divination for money;

yet they lean on the Lord and say,

“Is not the Lord in the midst of us?

No disaster shall come upon us.”

Therefore because of you

Zion shall be plowed as a field;

Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,

and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

But as for me, I am filled with power,

with the Spirit of the Lord,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his transgression,

to Israel his sin.

Hear this, you leaders of Jacob,

you rulers of Israel,

who despise justice

and distort all that is right;

who build Zion with bloodshed,

and Jerusalem with wickedness.

Her leaders judge for a bribe,

her priests teach for a price,

and her prophets tell fortunes for money.

Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say,

“Is not the Lord among us?

No disaster will come upon us.”

Therefore because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,

the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.

As for me, however, I am filled with power

by the Spirit of the Lord,

with justice and courage,

to proclaim to Jacob his rebellion

and to Israel his sin.

Listen to this, leaders of the house of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel,

who abhor justice

and pervert everything that is right,

who build Zion with bloodshed

and Jerusalem with injustice.

Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,

her priests teach for payment,

and her prophets practice divination for silver.

Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,

“Isn’t the Lord among us?

No disaster will overtake us.”

Therefore, because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become ruins,

and the temple’s mountain

will be a high thicket.

But as for me, I am filled with power—

with the Spirit of the Lord.

I am filled with justice and strength

to boldly declare Israel’s sin and rebellion.

Listen to me, you leaders of Israel!

You hate justice and twist all that is right.

You are building Jerusalem

on a foundation of murder and corruption.

You rulers make decisions based on bribes;

you priests teach God’s laws only for a price;

you prophets won’t prophesy unless you are paid.

Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord.

“No harm can come to us,” you say,

“for the Lord is here among us.”

Because of you, Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field;

Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins!

A thicket will grow on the heights

where the Temple now stands.

But I, I am filled with power,

with the Spirit of Yahweh,

and with justice and might,

to declare to Jacob his rebellion,

and to Israel his sin.

Hear this, O rulers of the house of Jacob

and leaders of the house of Israel,

those detesting justice

and perverting all that is right,

he who builds Zion with blood

and Jerusalem with wickedness.

Its rulers judge for a bribe;

its priests teach for a price;

its prophets practice divination for money.

But they lean on Yahweh, saying,

“Is not Yahweh in our midst?

Disaster will not come upon us.”

Therefore on account of you

Zion will be plowed as a field,

and Jerusalem will be a heap of rubble,

and the temple mount as a high place in a forest.

But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord,

And of judgment, and of might,

To declare unto Jacob his transgression,

And to Israel his sin.

Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob,

And princes of the house of Israel,

That abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.

They build up Zion with blood,

And Jerusalem with iniquity.

The heads thereof judge for reward,

And the priests thereof teach for hire,

And the prophets thereof divine for money:

Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say,

Is not the Lord among us?

None evil can come upon us.

Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field,

And Jerusalem shall become heaps,

And the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.