Micah 2

1 A curse on the designers of evil, working on their beds! in the morning light they do it, because it is in their power.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds. When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

2 They have a desire for fields and take them by force; and for houses and take them away: they are cruel to a man and his family, even to a man and his heritage.

They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

3 For this cause the Lord has said, See, against this family I am purposing an evil from which you will not be able to take your necks away, and you will be weighted down by it; for it is an evil time.

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Look, I am planning against these people a disaster, from which you will not remove your necks, neither will you walk haughtily; for it is an evil time.

4 In that day this saying will be said about you, and this song of grief will be made: The heritage of my people is measured out, and there is no one to give it back; those who have made us prisoners have taken our fields from us, and complete destruction has come to us.

In that day they will take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, saying, 'We are utterly ruined. My people's possession is divided up. Indeed he takes it from me and assigns our fields to traitors.'"

5 For this cause you will have no one to make the decision by the measuring line in the meeting of the Lord.

Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the assembly of the LORD.

6 Let not words like these be dropped, they say: Shame and the curse will not come to the family of Jacob!

"Do not prophesy." They prophesy. "Do not prophesy about these things. Disgrace won't overtake us."

7 Is the Lord quickly made angry? are these his doings? do not his words do good to his people Israel?

Shall it be said, O house of Jacob: "Is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?"

8 As for you, you have become haters of those who were at peace with you: you take the clothing of those who go by without fear, and make them prisoners of war.

But lately my people have risen up as an enemy. You strip the robe and clothing from those who pass by without a care, returning from battle.

9 The women of my people you have been driving away from their dearly loved children; from their young ones you are taking my glory for ever.

You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my blessing forever.

10 Up! and go; for this is not your rest: because it has been made unclean, the destruction ordered will come on you.

Arise, and depart. For this is not your resting place, because of uncleanness that destroys, even with a grievous destruction.

11 If a man came with a false spirit of deceit, saying, I will be a prophet to you of wine and strong drink: he would be the sort of prophet for this people.

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies: "I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink;" he would be the prophet of this people.

12 I will certainly make all of you, O Jacob, come together; I will get together the rest of Israel; I will put them together like the sheep in their circle: like a flock in their green field; they will be full of the noise of men.

I will surely assemble, Jacob, all of you; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the midst of their pasture; they will swarm with people.

13 The opener of the way will go up before them: forcing their way out they will go on to the doorway and out through it: their king will go on before them, and the Lord at their head.

The breaker goes up before them. They break through the gate, and go out. And their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.