Micah

1The word of the Lord that came to Micheas the Morasthite, in the days of Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda: which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2Hear, all ye people: and let the earth give ear, and all that is therein: and let the Lord God be a witness to you, the Lord from his holy temple.

3For behold the Lord will come forth out of his place: and he will come down, and will tread upon the high places of the earth.

4And the mountains shall be melted under him: and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as waters that run down a steep place.

5For the wickedness of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the wickedness of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Juda? are they not Jerusalem?

6And I will make Samaria as a heap of stones in the field when a vineyard is planted: and I will bring down the stones thereof into the valley, and will lay her foundations bare.

7And all her graven things shall be cut in pieces, and all her wages shall be burnt with fire, and I will bring to destruction all her idols: for they were gathered together of the hire of a harlot, and unto the hire of a harlot they shall return.

8Therefore will I lament and howl: I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and a mourning like the ostriches.

9Because her wound is desperate, because it is come even to Juda, it hath touched the gate of my people even to Jerusalem.

10Declare ye it not in Geth, weep ye not with tears: in the house of Dust sprinkle yourselves with dust.

11And pass away, O thou that dwellest in the Beautiful place, covered with thy shame: she went not forth that dwelleth in the confines: the House adjoining shall receive mourning from you, which stood by herself.

12For she is become weak unto good that dwelleth in bitterness: for evil is come down from the Lord into the gate of Jerusalem.

13A tumult of chariots hath astonished the inhabitants of Lachis: it is the beginning of sin to the daughter of Sion, for in thee were found the crimes of Israel.

14Therefore shall she send messengers to the inheritance of Geth: the houses of lying to deceive the kings of Israel.

15Yet will I bring an heir to thee that dwellest in Maresa: even to Odollam shall the glory of Israel come.

16Make thee bald, and be polled for thy delicate children: enlarge thy baldness as the eagle: for they are carried into captivity from thee.

1The LORD’sword that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2Hear, you peoples, all of you!Listen, O earth, and all that is therein.Let the LordGOD be witness against you,the Lord from his holy temple.

3For behold,the LORD comes out of his place,and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.

4The mountains melt under him,and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place.

5“All this is for the disobedience of Jacob,and for the sins of the house of Israel.What is the disobedience of Jacob?Isn’t it Samaria?And what are the high places of Judah?Aren’t they Jerusalem?

6Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field,like places for planting vineyards;and I will pour down its stones into the valley,and I will uncover its foundations.

7All her idols will be beaten to pieces,all her temple gifts will be burned with fire, and I will destroy all her images;for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them,and to the hire of a prostitute shall they return.”

8For this I will lament and wail.I will go stripped and naked. I will howl like the jackals and mourn like the ostriches.

9For her wounds are incurable;for it has come even to Judah.It reaches to the gate of my people,even to Jerusalem.

10Don’t tell it in Gath.Don’t weep at all. At Beth OphrahI have rolled myself in the dust.

11Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame.The inhabitant of Zaanan won’t come out. The wailing of Beth Ezel will take from you his protection.

12For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good,because evil has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.

13Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish.She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

14Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath.The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel.

15I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah.The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

16Shave your heads,and cut off your hair for the children of your delight.Enlarge your baldness like the vulture,for they have gone into captivity from you!