Add parallel Print Page Options

Covetous Schemers

Oy to them who scheme wickedness,
who work out evil upon their beds!
In the light of the morning, they do it,
for the power is in their hands.
They covet fields, so they seize them,
or houses, and take them away.
So they oppress a man and his house—
a man and his inheritance.

Therefore, thus said Adonai:
“Behold, I am scheming a calamity against this family
    from which you cannot remove your necks.
Then you will not walk haughtily,
for it will be a time of distress.”
In that day He will lift up a parable for you,
and there will be wailing lamentation,
saying: “We have been utterly ruined!
He changes the portion of my people.
How He removes it from me!
To the faithless He apportions our fields!”
Therefore you will have no one casting for territory
    by lot in the congregation of Adonai.

“Do not prophesy,” they prophesy.
Unless they prophesy about such things,
    He will not turn back reproaches.”
Is it said, “O house of Jacob,
is the Ruach Adonai short of patience?
Are these His deeds?”
“Do not My words deal well
    with one who walks uprightly?”
But recently My people arose as an enemy.
You strip off the outer robe of a garment
from those passing through confidently—
those returning from war.
The wives of My people you cast out
    from their exquisite houses.
From her young children
    you take away My splendor, forever.
10 Arise and go!
For this is not the resting place,
    because of uncleanness that destroys—
    a grievous destruction.
11 If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood speaks lies—
    “I will prophesy for you of wine and strong drink”—
Then he would be a spokesman of this people.

12 “I will surely gather Jacob—all of you!
I will surely gather the remnant of Israel.
I will put them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock within its pasture.
They will be noisy with people.
13 One breaking through will go up before them.[a]
They will break through,
pass through the gate and go out by it.[b]
Their King will pass through before them
    Adonai at their head!”

Human Plans and God’s Plans

Woe to those who plan iniquity,
    to those who plot evil(A) on their beds!(B)
At morning’s light they carry it out
    because it is in their power to do it.
They covet fields(C) and seize them,(D)
    and houses, and take them.
They defraud(E) people of their homes,
    they rob them of their inheritance.(F)

Therefore, the Lord says:

“I am planning disaster(G) against this people,
    from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,(H)
    for it will be a time of calamity.
In that day people will ridicule you;
    they will taunt you with this mournful song:
‘We are utterly ruined;(I)
    my people’s possession is divided up.(J)
He takes it from me!
    He assigns our fields to traitors.’”

Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord
    to divide the land(K) by lot.(L)

False Prophets

“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
    “Do not prophesy about these things;
    disgrace(M) will not overtake us.(N)
You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
    “Does the Lord become[a] impatient?
    Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do good(O)
    to the one whose ways are upright?(P)
Lately my people have risen up
    like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
    from those who pass by without a care,
    like men returning from battle.
You drive the women of my people
    from their pleasant homes.(Q)
You take away my blessing
    from their children forever.
10 Get up, go away!
    For this is not your resting place,(R)
because it is defiled,(S)
    it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
11 If a liar and deceiver(T) comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’(U)
    that would be just the prophet for this people!(V)

Deliverance Promised

12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant(W) of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.(X)
13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before(Y) them;
    they will break through the gate(Z) and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
    the Lord at their head.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 2:7 Or Is the Spirit of the Lord