Micah 2

The Evil Plans of People

2How terrible it will be for people who plan wickedness,

who lie on their beds and make evil plans.

When the morning light comes, they do what they planned,

because they have the power to do so.

²They want fields, so they take them;

they want houses, so they take them away.

They cheat people to get their houses;

they rob them even of their property.

³That is why the Lord says:

“Look, I am planning trouble against such people,

and you won’t be able to save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,

because it will be a terrible time.

⁴At that time people will make fun of you

and sing this sad song about you:

‘We are completely ruined;

the Lord has taken away my people’s land.

Yes, he has taken it away from me

and divided our fields among our enemies!’ ”

⁵So you will have no one from the Lord’s people

to throw lots to divide the land.

Micah Is Asked Not to Prophesy

⁶The prophets say, “Don’t prophesy to us!

Don’t prophesy about these things!

Nothing to make us feel bad will happen!”

⁷But I must say this, people of Jacob:

The Lord is becoming angry about what you have done.

My words are welcome

to the person who does what is right.

⁸But you are fighting against my people like an enemy.

You take the coats from people who pass by;

you rob them of their safety;

you plan war.

⁹You’ve forced the women of my people

from their nice houses;

you’ve taken my glory

from their children forever.

¹⁰Get up and leave.

This is not your place of rest anymore.

You have made this place unclean,

and it is doomed to destruction.

¹¹But you people want a false prophet

who will tell you nothing but lies.

You want one who promises to prophesy good things for you

if you give him wine and beer.

He’s just the prophet for you.

The Lord Promises to Rescue His People

¹²“Yes, people of Jacob, I will bring all of you together;

I will bring together all those left alive in Israel.

I will put them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in its pasture;

the place will be filled with many people.

¹³Someone will open the way and lead the people out.

The people will break through the gate and leave the city where they were held captive.

Their king will go out in front of them,

and the Lord will lead them.”