Micah 1

The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth^a during the reigns of Jotham,^b Ahaz^c and Hezekiah,^d kings of Judah^e—the vision^f he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

Hear,^g you peoples, all of you,^h

listen, earthⁱ and all who live in it,

that the Sovereign Lord may witness^j against you,

the Lord from his holy temple.^k

Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem

Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling^a place;

he comes down^b and treads on the heights of the earth.^c

The mountains melt^d beneath him^e

and the valleys split apart,^f

like wax before the fire,

like water rushing down a slope.

All this is because of Jacob’s transgression,

because of the sins of the house of Israel.

What is Jacob’s transgression?

Is it not Samaria?^g

What is Judah’s high place?

Is it not Jerusalem?

“Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,

a place for planting vineyards.^h

I will pour her stonesⁱ into the valley

and lay bare her foundations.^j

All her idols^k will be broken to pieces;^l

all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;

I will destroy all her images.^m

Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,ⁿ

as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”

Weeping and Mourning

Because of this I will weep^a and wail;

I will go about barefoot^b and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

For Samaria’s wound^c is incurable;^d

it has come to Judah.^e

It has reached the very gate^f of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself.

Tell it not in Gath;

weep not at all.

In Beth Ophrah

roll in the dust.

Pass on in nakedness^g and shame,

you who live in Shaphir.

Those who live in Zaanan

will not come out.

Beth Ezel is in mourning;

its protection is taken from you.

Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain,

waiting for relief,^h

because disasterⁱ has come from the Lord,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

You who live in Lachish,^j

harness the team to the chariot.

You were the beginning of sin

to Daughter Zion,^k

for the transgressions of Israel

were found in you.

Therefore you will give parting gifts^l

to Moresheth^m Gath.

The town of Akzibⁿ will prove deceptive^o

to the kings of Israel.

I will bring a conqueror against you

who live in Mareshah.^p

The nobles of Israel

will flee to Adullam.^q

Shave^r 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.^s