Micah 2

1 Woe to you who devise useless things and who work evil in your beds. In the morning light, they undertake it, because their hand is against God.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil on their beds. When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.

2 And they have desired fields and have taken them by violence, and they have stolen houses. And they have made false accusations against a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.

They covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

3 For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which you will not steal away your necks. And you will not walk in arrogance, because this is a most wicked time.

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Look, 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.

4 In that day, a parable will be taken up about you, and a song will be sung with sweetness, saying: “We have been devastated by depopulation.” The fate of my people has been altered. How can he withdraw from me, when he might be turned back, he who might tear apart our country?

In 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.'"

5 Because of this, there will be for you no casting of the cord of fate in the assembly of the Lord.

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

6 Do not speak by saying, “It will not drop on these ones; shame will not embrace them.”

"Do not prophesy." They prophesy. "Do not prophesy about these things. Disgrace won't overtake us."

7 The house of Jacob says, “Has the Spirit of the Lord been weakened, or are such things his thoughts?” Are not my words good for him who walks uprightly?

Shall it be said, O house of Jacob: "Is the Spirit of the LORD angry? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him who walks blamelessly?"

8 But, to the contrary, my people have risen up in opposition. You have lifted the cover from the undergarment, and those who passed by harmlessly, you have converted into war.

But 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.

9 You have evicted the women among my people from their delicate houses. You have taken my praise forever from their little ones.

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

10 Rise and depart, for there is no relief for you here. Because of its uncleanness, it will be corrupted with a most wicked decay.

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

11 I wish that I were not a man who has breath, and that I rather spoke a lie. I will drop it down to you in wine and in drunkenness. And it will be this people on whom it will rain down.

If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood lies: "I will prophesy to you of wine and of strong drink;" he would be the prophet of this people.

12 I will gather together in a congregation all of you, Jacob. I will lead together as one, the remnant of Israel. I will set them together like a flock in the fold, like a sheep in the midst of the sheep pen. They will cause a tumult before the multitude of men.

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

13 For he will ascend, opening the way before them. They will separate, and they will cross the gate and enter through it. And their king will pass by, before their very eyes, and the Lord will be at their head.

The breaker goes up before them. They break through the gate, and go out. And their king passes on before them, with the LORD at their head.