Micah 2
1 A curse on the designers of evil, working on their beds! in the morning light they do it, because it is in their power.
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.
2 They have a desire for fields and take them by force; and for houses and take them away: they are cruel to a man and his family, even to a man and his heritage.
They covet fields and seize them, desire houses and take them, they crush householder and his household, people and their possessions.
3 For this cause the Lord has said, See, against this family I am purposing an evil from which you will not be able to take your necks away, and you will be weighted down by it; for it is an evil time.
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.
4 In that day this saying will be said about you, and this song of grief will be made: The heritage of my people is measured out, and there is no one to give it back; those who have made us prisoners have taken our fields from us, and complete destruction has come to us.
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.”
5 For this cause you will have no one to make the decision by the measuring line in the meeting of the Lord.
There will be no one to measure out land for you from the Lord’s community.
6 Let not words like these be dropped, they say: Shame and the curse will not come to the family of Jacob!
‘“Don’t rant!” they urge, “Of such things one does not prophesy! Shame will not overtake us!
7 Is the Lord quickly made angry? are these his doings? do not his words do good to his people Israel?
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?
8 As for you, you have become haters of those who were at peace with you: you take the clothing of those who go by without fear, and make them prisoners of war.
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.
9 The women of my people you have been driving away from their dearly loved children; from their young ones you are taking my glory for ever.
Women of my people you drive out from their happy homes, from their young children you take away my glory forever.
10 Up! and go; for this is not your rest: because it has been made unclean, the destruction ordered will come on you.
Rise and begone, for this is no place to rest. Your uncleanness brings destruction, severe destruction.
11 If a man came with a false spirit of deceit, saying, I will be a prophet to you of wine and strong drink: he would be the sort of prophet for this people.
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!’
12 I will certainly make all of you, O Jacob, come together; I will get together the rest of Israel; I will put them together like the sheep in their circle: like a flock in their green field; they will be full of the noise of men.
‘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.
13 The opener of the way will go up before them: forcing their way out they will go on to the doorway and out through it: their king will go on before them, and the Lord at their head.
‘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.’
