Micah 2
1 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.
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.
2 They covet fields and seize them, desire houses and take them, they crush householder and his household, people and their possessions.
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.
3 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.
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
4 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.”
In that day they will take up a proverb against you and taunt you with this bitter lamentation: ‘We are utterly ruined! He has changed the portion of my people. How He has removed it from me! He has allotted our fields to traitors.’”
5 There will be no one to measure out land for you from the Lord’s community.
Therefore, you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot.
6 ‘“Don’t rant!” they urge, “Of such things one does not prophesy! Shame will not overtake us!
“Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 Is the Lord impatient, or are such things his deeds? Are not his words favourable to the family of Jacob?” Aren’t my commands good for those who obey them?
Should it be said, O house of Jacob, “Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these the things He does?” Do not My words bring good to him who walks uprightly?
8 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.
But of late My people have risen up like an enemy: You strip off the splendid robe from unsuspecting passersby like men returning from battle.
9 Women of my people you drive out from their happy homes, from their young children you take away my glory forever.
You drive the women of My people from their pleasant homes. You take away My blessing from their children forever.
10 Rise and begone, for this is no place to rest. Your uncleanness brings destruction, severe destruction.
Arise and depart, for this is not your place of rest, because its defilement brings destruction— a grievous destruction!
11 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!’
If a man of wind were to come and say falsely, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,” he would be just the preacher for this people!
12 ‘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.
I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will collect the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in the midst of its pasture— a noisy throng.
13 ‘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.’
One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.
