Micah 2

1 Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

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 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away; and they oppress a man and his house, even 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 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye walk haughtily: 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 shall they take up a proverb concerning you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, [and] say, We are utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! He hath distributed our fields to the rebellious.

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 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the measuring line upon a lot, in the congregation of Jehovah.

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

6 Prophesy ye not, they prophesy. If they do not prophesy to these, the ignominy will not depart.

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

7 O thou [that art] named the house of Jacob, Is Jehovah impatient? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

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 But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip off the mantle with the garment from them that pass by securely, that are averse from 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 do ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children do ye take away my magnificence 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 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not the resting-place, because of defilement that bringeth destruction, even a grievous destruction.

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

11 If a man walking in wind and falsehood do lie, [saying, ] I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink, he shall be the prophet of 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 surely assemble, O Jacob, the whole of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the midst of their pasture: they shall make great noise by reason of [the multitude 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 One that breaketh through is gone up before them: they have broken forth, and have passed on to the gate, and are gone out by it; and their king passeth on before them, and Jehovah at the head of them.

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.