Micah

Woe to Oppressors

1Woe to those who devise iniquityand plot evil on their beds!At morning’s light they accomplish itbecause the power is in their hands.

2They covet fields and seize them;they take away houses.They deprive a man of his home,a fellow man of his inheritance.

3Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disasterfrom which you cannot free your necks.Then you will not walk so proudly,for it will be a time of calamity.

4In that day they will take up a proverb against youand 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.’”

5Therefore, you will have no one in the assembly of the LORDto divide the land by lot.

Reproof of False Prophets

6“Do not preach,” they preach.“Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”

7Should 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 goodto him who walks uprightly?

8But of late My people have risen uplike an enemy:You strip off the splendid robefrom unsuspecting passersby like men returning from battle.

9You drive the women of My peoplefrom their pleasant homes.You take away My blessingfrom their children forever.

10Arise and depart,for this is not your place of rest,because its defilement brings destruction—a grievous destruction!

11If a man of wind were to comeand say falsely,“I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”he would be just the preacher for this people!

The Remnant of Israel

12I 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.

13One who breaks open the waywill 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.

1Woe to those who devise iniquityand work evil on their beds!When the morning is light, they practise it,because it is in the power of their hand.

2They covet fields and seize them,and houses, then take them away.They oppress a man and his house,even a man and his heritage.

3Therefore the LORD says: “Behold, 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.

4In 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!’”

5Therefore you will have no one who divides the land by lot in the LORD’s assembly.

6“Don’t prophesy!”—they prophesy—“Don’t prophesy about these things. Disgrace won’t overtake us.”

7Shall it be said, O house of Jacob,“Is the LORD’s Spirit angry? Are these his doings? Don’t my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?”

8But 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.

9You drive the women of my people out from their pleasant houses;from their young children you take away my blessing forever.

10Arise, and depart!For this is not your resting place, because of uncleanness that destroys, even with a grievous destruction.

11If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies, saying,“I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink,” he would be the prophet of this people.

12I will surely assemble all of you, Jacob.I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah,as a flock in the middle of their pasture. They will swarm with people.

13He who breaks open the way goes up before them.They break through the gate, and go out. Their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.