< Micah 2 >

1 Woe vnto them, that imagine iniquitie, and worke wickednesse vpon their beddes: when the morning is light they practise it because their hande hath 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 And they couet fields, and take them by violence, and houses, and take them away: so they oppresse a man and his house, euen 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 saieth the Lord, Beholde, against this familie haue I deuised a plague, whereout yee shall not plucke your neckes, and ye shall not go so proudly, for this time is euill.
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 daye shall they take vp a parable against you, and lament with a dolefull lamentation, and say, We be vtterly wasted: hee hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he taken it away to restore it vnto mee? he hath deuided our fieldes.
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 haue none that shall cast a corde by lot in the Congregation of the Lord.
Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the assembly of the LORD.
6 They that prophecied, Prophecie ye not. They shall not prophecie to them, neither shall they take shame.
"Do not prophesy." They prophesy. "Do not prophesy about these things. Disgrace won't overtake us."
7 O thou that art named of the house of Iaakob, is the Spirite of the Lord shortened? are these his workes? are not my wordes good vnto him that walketh vprightly?
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 hee that was yesterday my people, is risen vp on the other side, as against an enemie: they spoyle the beautifull garment from them that passe by peaceably, as though they returned from the warre.
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 haue ye cast out from their pleasant houses, and from their childre haue ye taken away my glorie continually.
You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my blessing forever.
10 Arise and depart, for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, euen with a sore 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 walke in the Spirit, and would lie falsely, saying, I wil prophecie vnto thee of wine, and of strong drinke, he shall euen 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 gather thee wholy, O Iaakob: I will surely gather the remnant of Israel: I will put them together as the sheepe of Bozrah, euen as the flocke in the mids of their folde: the cities shall be full of brute of the 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 breaker vp shall come vp before them: they shall breake out, and passe by the gate, and goe out by it, and their King shall goe before them, and the Lord shalbe vpon their heades.
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.

< Micah 2 >