The Book of
Micah
1
1 The
LORD’s
word that came
to Micah
of Morasheth in
the days of
Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, kings of
Judah, which he
saw concerning
Samaria and
Jerusalem.
2 Hear,
you peoples, all
of you!
Listen, O earth,
and all that
is therein.
Let the Lord
GOD be witness
against you,
the Lord from
his holy temple.
3 For
behold,
the LORD comes
out of his
place,
and will come
down and tread
on the high
places of
the earth.
4 The
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?
6 Therefore 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.
7 All
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.”
8 For
this I will
lament and wail.
I will go
stripped and naked.
I will howl
like the jackals
and mourn like
the ostriches.
9 For
her wounds
are incurable;
for it has
come even to
Judah.
It reaches to
the gate of
my people,
even to Jerusalem.
10 Don’t
tell it in Gath.
Don’t weep at all.
At Beth Ophrah
I have rolled myself in
the dust.
11 Pass
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.
12 For
the inhabitant of
Maroth waits anxiously for
good,
because evil has
come down from
the LORD to
the gate of
Jerusalem.
13 Harness
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.
14 Therefore
you will give
a parting gift
to Moresheth Gath.
The houses
of Achzib will be
a deceitful thing
to the kings
of Israel.
15 I
will yet bring a
conqueror to you,
inhabitants of
Mareshah.
The glory of
Israel will come
to Adullam.
16 Shave
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!