Micah 1:8–2:11

Weeping and Mourning

8 Because of this I will weepz and wail;

I will go about barefoota and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

9 For Samaria’s plagueb is incurable;c

it has spread to Judah.d

It has reached the very gatee of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself.

10 Tell it not in Gatha;

weep not at all.

In Beth Ophrahb

roll in the dust.

11 Pass by nakedf and in shame,

you who live in Shaphir.c

Those who live in Zaanand

will not come out.

Beth Ezel is in mourning;

it no longer protects you.

12 Those who live in Marothe writhe in pain,

waiting for relief,g

because disasterh has come from the Lord,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 You who live in Lachish,i

harness fast horses to the chariot.

You are where the sin of Daughter Zionj began,

for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

14 Therefore you will give parting giftsk

to Moreshethl Gath.

The town of Akzibf m will prove deceptiven

to the kings of Israel.

15 I will bring a conqueror against you

who live in Mareshah.g o

The nobles of Israel

will flee to Adullam.p

16 Shaveq your head in mourning

for the children in whom you delight;

make yourself as bald as the vulture,

for they will go from you into exile.r

Human Plans and God’s Plans

2 Woe to those who plan iniquity,

to those who plot evils on their beds!t

At morning’s light they carry it out

because it is in their power to do it.

2 They covet fieldsu and seize them,v

and houses, and take them.

They defraudw people of their homes,

they rob them of their inheritance.x

3 Therefore, the Lord says:

“I am planning disastery against this people,

from which you cannot save yourselves.

You will no longer walk proudly,z

for it will be a time of calamity.

4 In that day people will ridicule you;

they will taunt you with this mournful song:

‘We are utterly ruined;a

my people’s possession is divided up.b

He takes it from me!

He assigns our fields to traitors.’ ”

5 Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord

to divide the landc by lot.d

False Prophets

6 “Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.

“Do not prophesy about these things;

disgracee will not overtake us.f”

7 You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,

“Does the Lord becomea impatient?

Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do goodg

to the one whose ways are upright?h

8 Lately my people have risen up

like an enemy.

You strip off the rich robe

from those who pass by without a care,

like men returning from battle.

9 You drive the women of my people

from their pleasant homes.i

You take away my blessing

from their children forever.

10 Get up, go away!

For this is not your resting place,j

because it is defiled,k

it is ruined, beyond all remedy.

11 If a liar and deceiverl comes and says,

‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’m

that would be just the prophet for this people!n