12 Heb “concerning the prophets, those who mislead my people.” The first person pronominal suffix is awkward in a quotation formula that introduces the words of the Lord. For this reason some prefer to begin the quotation after “the Lord says” (cf. ), but this leaves “concerning the prophets” hanging very awkwardly at the beginning of the quotation. It is preferable to add הוֹי (hoy, “woe, ah”) at the beginning of the quotation, right after the graphically similar יְהוָה (yéhvah; see D. R. Hillers, Micah [Hermeneia], ). The phrase הוֹי עַל (hoy ’al, “woe upon”) occurs in Jer 50:27 and Ezek 13:3 (with “the prophets” following the preposition in the latter instance).
13 Heb “those who bite with their teeth and cry out, ‘peace.’ ” The phrase “bite with the teeth” is taken here as idiomatic for eating. Apparently these prophets were driven by mercenary motives. If they were paid well, they gave positive oracles to their clients, but if someone could not afford to pay them, they were hostile and delivered oracles of doom.
14 Heb “but [as for the one] who does not place [food] in their mouths, they prepare for war against him.”

In other versions

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets

who lead my people astray,

who cry “Peace”

when they have something to eat,

but declare war against him

who puts nothing into their mouths.

This is what the Lord says:

“As for the prophets

who lead my people astray,

they proclaim ‘peace’

if they have something to eat,

but prepare to wage war against anyone

who refuses to feed them.

This is what the Lord says

concerning the prophets

who lead my people astray,

who proclaim peace

when they have food to sink their teeth into

but declare war against the one

who puts nothing in their mouths.

This is what the Lord says:

“You false prophets are leading my people astray!

You promise peace for those who give you food,

but you declare war on those who refuse to feed you.

Thus says Yahweh concerning the prophets

who are leading my people astray,

who are biting with their teeth

and proclaim, “Peace,”

but whoever puts nothing into their mouths

they declare war against.

Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err,

That bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace;

And he that putteth not into their mouths,

They even prepare war against him.

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