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.”
15 Heb “it will be night for you without a vision.” The coming of night (and darkness in the following line) symbolizes the cessation of revelation.
16 Heb “it will be dark for you without divination.” The reading of omens (Heb “divination”) was forbidden in the law (Deut 18:10), so this probably reflects the prophets’ view of how they received divine revelation.
17 Heb “and the day will be dark over them.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

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.

Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,

and darkness to you, without divination.

The sun shall go down on the prophets,

and the day shall be black over them;

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

Therefore night will come over you, without visions,

and darkness, without divination.

The sun will set for the prophets,

and the day will go dark for them.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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.

Therefore, it will be night for you—

without visions;

it will grow dark for you—

without divination.

The sun will set on these prophets,

and the daylight will turn black over them.

NLTNew Living Translation

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.

Now the night will close around you,

cutting off all your visions.

Darkness will cover you,

putting an end to your predictions.

The sun will set for you prophets,

and your day will come to an end.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

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.

Therefore it will be as night to you, without vision,

and darkness to you, without divination.

And the sun will set on the prophets,

and the day will grow dark over them.

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision;

And it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine;

And the sun shall go down over the prophets,

And the day shall be dark over them.

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