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 lie awake planning evil, who in the light of morning carry out their plan because they have the power to do it.
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, desire houses and take them, they crush householder and his household, people and their possessions.
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 the Lord says: “I am planning disaster from which you cannot save your neck, nor walk proudly because it will be a terrible 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.
On that day they will sing a taunt-song to you, this mocking lament: ‘My people’s estate is being measured for sale, our captors are dividing our fields. We are completely undone.’
5 Therefore thou shalt haue none that shall cast a corde by lot in the Congregation of the Lord.
There will be no one to measure out land for you from the Lord’s community.
6 They that prophecied, Prophecie ye not. They shall not prophecie to them, neither shall they take shame.
“‘Don’t rant!’ they urge, ‘Of such things one does not prophesy! Shame will not 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?
Is the Lord impatient, or are such things his deeds? Are not his words favorable to the family of Jacob?’ Aren’t my commands good for those who obey them?
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 you, you stand up as a foe against those who are peaceful; you strip the robe from those who pass by quietly, averse to conflict.
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.
Women of my people you drive out from their happy homes, from their young children you take away my glory forever.
10 Arise and depart, for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, euen with a sore destruction.
Rise and begone, for this is no place to rest. Your uncleanness brings destruction, severe 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 person walking in wine and falsehood were to say, ‘I will prophesy to you of wine and strong drink,’ then he would be the perfect prophet for 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 assuredly assemble all of Jacob, I will surely gather the survivors of Israel. I will herd them together as sheep in a fold, like a flock in the pasture, and the land will resound with the sounds of multitudes.
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 one who breaks out goes first. They have broken forth and passed by the gate and through it have they gone out. Their king leads before them, the Lord at their head.”
