Micah 3:1–4

And I said:

Hear, you heads of Jacob

and rulers of the house of Israel!

Is it not for you to know justice?—

you who hate the good and love the evil,

who tear the skin from off my people

and their flesh from off their bones,

who eat the flesh of my people,

and flay their skin from off them,

and break their bones in pieces

and chop them up like meat in a pot,

like flesh in a cauldron.

Then they will cry to the Lord,

but he will not answer them;

he will hide his face from them at that time,

because they have made their deeds evil.

Then I said,

“Listen, you leaders of Jacob,

you rulers of Israel.

Should you not embrace justice,

you who hate good and love evil;

who tear the skin from my people

and the flesh from their bones;

who eat my people’s flesh,

strip off their skin

and break their bones in pieces;

who chop them up like meat for the pan,

like flesh for the pot?”

Then they will cry out to the Lord,

but he will not answer them.

At that time he will hide his face from them

because of the evil they have done.

Then I said, “Now listen, leaders of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel.

Aren’t you supposed to know what is just?

You hate good and love evil.

You tear off people’s skin

and strip their flesh from their bones.

You eat the flesh of my people

after you strip their skin from them

and break their bones.

You chop them up

like flesh for the cooking pot,

like meat in a cauldron.”

Then they will cry out to the Lord,

but he will not answer them.

He will hide his face from them at that time

because of the crimes they have committed.

I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel!

You are supposed to know right from wrong,

but you are the very ones

who hate good and love evil.

You skin my people alive

and tear the flesh from their bones.

Yes, you eat my people’s flesh,

strip off their skin,

and break their bones.

You chop them up

like meat for the cooking pot.

Then you beg the Lord for help in times of trouble!

Do you really expect him to answer?

After all the evil you have done,

he won’t even look at you!”

And I said,

“Listen, O heads of Jacob

and leaders of the house of Israel!

Is it not for you to know justice?

Those of you who are haters of good

and lovers of evil,

who tear their skin from them

and their flesh from their bones,

and who eat the flesh of my people,

and strip their skin from them,

and break their bones,

and chop them like meat in the pot,

and like flesh in the midst of a cooking pot.”

Then they will cry to Yahweh,

but he will not answer them.

He will hide his face from them at that time,

when they have made their deeds evil.

And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob,

And ye princes of the house of Israel;

Is it not for you to know judgment?

Who hate the good, and love the evil;

Who pluck off their skin from off them,

And their flesh from off their bones;

Who also eat the flesh of my people,

And flay their skin from off them;

And they break their bones,

And chop them in pieces, as for the pot,

And as flesh within the caldron.

Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them:

He will even hide his face from them at that time,

As they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.