Micah
CHAPTER1
1ThewordoftheLORDthatcametoMicahthe MorasthiteinthedaysofJotham,Ahaz,andHezekiah, kingsofJudah,whichhesawconcerningSamariaand Jerusalem.
2Hear,allyepeople;hearken,Oearth,andallthattherein is:andlettheLordGODbewitnessagainstyou,theLord fromhisholytemple.
3For,behold,theLORDcomethforthoutofhisplace,and willcomedown,andtreaduponthehighplacesofthe earth.
4Andthemountainsshallbemoltenunderhim,andthe valleysshallbecleft,aswaxbeforethefire,andasthe watersthatarepoureddownasteepplace.
5ForthetransgressionofJacobisallthis,andforthesins ofthehouseofIsraelWhatisthetransgressionofJacob? isitnotSamaria?andwhatarethehighplacesofJudah? aretheynotJerusalem?
6ThereforeIwillmakeSamariaasanheapofthefield, andasplantingsofavineyard:andIwillpourdownthe stonesthereofintothevalley,andIwilldiscoverthe foundationsthereof
7Andallthegravenimagesthereofshallbebeatento pieces,andallthehiresthereofshallbeburnedwiththe fire,andalltheidolsthereofwillIlaydesolate:forshe gathereditofthehireofanharlot,andtheyshallreturnto thehireofanharlot
8ThereforeIwillwailandhowl,Iwillgostrippedand naked:Iwillmakeawailinglikethedragons,and mourningastheowls
9Forherwoundisincurable;foritiscomeuntoJudah;he iscomeuntothegateofmypeople,eventoJerusalem.
10DeclareyeitnotatGath,weepyenotatall:inthe houseofAphrahrollthyselfinthedust.
11Passyeaway,thouinhabitantofSaphir,havingthy shamenaked:theinhabitantofZaanancamenotforthin themourningofBethezel;heshallreceiveofyouhis standing
12FortheinhabitantofMarothwaitedcarefullyforgood: butevilcamedownfromtheLORDuntothegateof Jerusalem
13OthouinhabitantofLachish,bindthechariottothe swiftbeast:sheisthebeginningofthesintothedaughter ofZion:forthetransgressionsofIsraelwerefoundinthee 14ThereforeshaltthougivepresentstoMoreshethgath:the housesofAchzibshallbealietothekingsofIsrael.
15YetwillIbringanheiruntothee,Oinhabitantof Mareshah:heshallcomeuntoAdullamthegloryofIsrael 16Maketheebald,andpolltheeforthydelicatechildren; enlargethybaldnessastheeagle;fortheyaregoneinto captivityfromthee
CHAPTER2
1Woetothemthatdeviseiniquity,andworkevilupon theirbeds!whenthemorningislight,theypractiseit, becauseitisinthepoweroftheirhand
2Andtheycovetfields,andtakethembyviolence;and houses,andtakethemaway:sotheyoppressamanandhis house,evenamanandhisheritage.
3ThereforethussaiththeLORD;Behold,againstthis familydoIdeviseanevil,fromwhichyeshallnotremove yournecks;neithershallyegohaughtily:forthistimeis evil
4Inthatdayshallonetakeupaparableagainstyou,and lamentwithadolefullamentation,andsay,Webeutterly spoiled:hehathchangedtheportionofmypeople:how hathheremoveditfromme!turningawayhehathdivided ourfields.
5Thereforethoushalthavenonethatshallcastacordby lotinthecongregationoftheLORD
6Prophesyyenot,saytheytothemthatprophesy:they shallnotprophesytothem,thattheyshallnottakeshame 7OthouthatartnamedthehouseofJacob,isthespiritof theLORDstraitened?arethesehisdoings?donotmy wordsdogoodtohimthatwalkethuprightly?
8Evenoflatemypeopleisrisenupasanenemy:yepull offtherobewiththegarmentfromthemthatpassby securelyasmenaversefromwar
9Thewomenofmypeoplehaveyecastoutfromtheir pleasanthouses;fromtheirchildrenhaveyetakenaway mygloryforever
10Ariseye,anddepart;forthisisnotyourrest:becauseit ispolluted,itshalldestroyyou,evenwithasore destruction
11Ifamanwalkinginthespiritandfalsehooddolie, saying,Iwillprophesyuntotheeofwineandofstrong drink;heshallevenbetheprophetofthispeople
12Iwillsurelyassemble,OJacob,allofthee;Iwillsurely gathertheremnantofIsrael;Iwillputthemtogetherasthe sheepofBozrah,astheflockinthemidstoftheirfold:they shallmakegreatnoisebyreasonofthemultitudeofmen.
13Thebreakeriscomeupbeforethem:theyhavebroken up,andhavepassedthroughthegate,andaregoneoutby it:andtheirkingshallpassbeforethem,andtheLORDon theheadofthem
CHAPTER3
1AndIsaid,Hear,Iprayyou,OheadsofJacob,andye princesofthehouseofIsrael;Isitnotforyoutoknow judgment?
2Whohatethegood,andlovetheevil;whopluckofftheir skinfromoffthem,andtheirfleshfromofftheirbones;
3Whoalsoeatthefleshofmypeople,andflaytheirskin fromoffthem;andtheybreaktheirbones,andchopthem inpieces,asforthepot,andasfleshwithinthecaldron.
4ThenshalltheycryuntotheLORD,buthewillnothear them:hewillevenhidehisfacefromthematthattime,as theyhavebehavedthemselvesillintheirdoings.
5ThussaiththeLORDconcerningtheprophetsthatmake mypeopleerr,thatbitewiththeirteeth,andcry,Peace;and hethatputtethnotintotheirmouths,theyevenpreparewar againsthim
6Thereforenightshallbeuntoyou,thatyeshallnothavea vision;anditshallbedarkuntoyou,thatyeshallnot divine;andthesunshallgodownovertheprophets,and thedayshallbedarkoverthem
MICAH
7Thenshalltheseersbeashamed,andthediviners confounded:yea,theyshallallcovertheirlips;forthereis noanswerofGod
8ButtrulyIamfullofpowerbythespiritoftheLORD, andofjudgment,andofmight,todeclareuntoJacobhis transgression,andtoIsraelhissin
9Hearthis,Iprayyou,yeheadsofthehouseofJacob,and princesofthehouseofIsrael,thatabhorjudgment,and pervertallequity
10TheybuildupZionwithblood,andJerusalemwith iniquity
11Theheadsthereofjudgeforreward,andthepriests thereofteachforhire,andtheprophetsthereofdivinefor money:yetwilltheyleanupontheLORD,andsay,Isnot theLORDamongus?noneevilcancomeuponus
12ThereforeshallZionforyoursakebeplowedasafield, andJerusalemshallbecomeheaps,andthemountainofthe houseasthehighplacesoftheforest
CHAPTER4
1Butinthelastdaysitshallcometopass,thatthe mountainofthehouseoftheLORDshallbeestablishedin thetopofthemountains,anditshallbeexaltedabovethe hills;andpeopleshallflowuntoit.
2Andmanynationsshallcome,andsay,Come,andletus gouptothemountainoftheLORD,andtothehouseofthe GodofJacob;andhewillteachusofhisways,andwewill walkinhispaths:forthelawshallgoforthofZion,andthe wordoftheLORDfromJerusalem
3Andheshalljudgeamongmanypeople,andrebuke strongnationsafaroff;andtheyshallbeattheirswordsinto plowshares,andtheirspearsintopruninghooks:nation shallnotliftupaswordagainstnation,neithershallthey learnwaranymore
4Buttheyshallsiteverymanunderhisvineandunderhis figtree;andnoneshallmakethemafraid:forthemouthof theLORDofhostshathspokenit
5Forallpeoplewillwalkeveryoneinthenameofhisgod, andwewillwalkinthenameoftheLORDourGodfor everandever
6Inthatday,saiththeLORD,willIassembleherthat halteth,andIwillgatherherthatisdrivenout,andherthat Ihaveafflicted;
7AndIwillmakeherthathaltedaremnant,andherthat wascastfaroffastrongnation:andtheLORDshallreign overtheminmountZionfromhenceforth,evenforever 8Andthou,Otoweroftheflock,thestrongholdofthe daughterofZion,untotheeshallitcome,eventhefirst dominion;thekingdomshallcometothedaughterof Jerusalem
9Nowwhydostthoucryoutaloud?istherenokingin thee?isthycounsellorperished?forpangshavetakenthee asawomanintravail
10Beinpain,andlabourtobringforth,OdaughterofZion, likeawomanintravail:fornowshaltthougoforthoutof thecity,andthoushaltdwellinthefield,andthoushaltgo eventoBabylon;thereshaltthoubedelivered;therethe LORDshallredeemtheefromthehandofthineenemies
11Nowalsomanynationsaregatheredagainstthee,that say,Letherbedefiled,andletoureyelookuponZion
12ButtheyknownotthethoughtsoftheLORD,neither understandtheyhiscounsel:forheshallgatherthemasthe sheavesintothefloor
13Ariseandthresh,OdaughterofZion:forIwillmake thinehorniron,andIwillmakethyhoofsbrass:andthou shaltbeatinpiecesmanypeople:andIwillconsecratetheir gainuntotheLORD,andtheirsubstanceuntotheLordof thewholeearth.
CHAPTER5
1Nowgatherthyselfintroops,Odaughteroftroops:he hathlaidsiegeagainstus:theyshallsmitethejudgeof Israelwitharoduponthecheek
2Butthou,BethlehemEphratah,thoughthoubelittle amongthethousandsofJudah,yetoutoftheeshallhe comeforthuntomethatistoberulerinIsrael;whose goingsforthhavebeenfromofold,fromeverlasting 3Thereforewillhegivethemup,untilthetimethatshe whichtravailethhathbroughtforth:thentheremnantofhis brethrenshallreturnuntothechildrenofIsrael
4AndheshallstandandfeedinthestrengthoftheLORD, inthemajestyofthenameoftheLORDhisGod;andthey shallabide:fornowshallhebegreatuntotheendsofthe earth.
5Andthismanshallbethepeace,whentheAssyrianshall comeintoourland:andwhenheshalltreadinourpalaces, thenshallweraiseagainsthimsevenshepherds,andeight principalmen
6AndtheyshallwastethelandofAssyriawiththesword, andthelandofNimrodintheentrancesthereof:thusshall hedeliverusfromtheAssyrian,whenhecomethintoour land,andwhenhetreadethwithinourborders
7AndtheremnantofJacobshallbeinthemidstofmany peopleasadewfromtheLORD,astheshowersuponthe grass,thattarriethnotforman,norwaitethforthesonsof men.
8AndtheremnantofJacobshallbeamongtheGentilesin themidstofmanypeopleasalionamongthebeastsofthe forest,asayounglionamongtheflocksofsheep:who,if hegothrough,bothtreadethdown,andtearethinpieces, andnonecandeliver
9Thinehandshallbeliftedupuponthineadversaries,and allthineenemiesshallbecutoff
10Anditshallcometopassinthatday,saiththeLORD, thatIwillcutoffthyhorsesoutofthemidstofthee,andI willdestroythychariots:
11AndIwillcutoffthecitiesofthyland,andthrowdown allthystrongholds:
12AndIwillcutoffwitchcraftsoutofthinehand;and thoushalthavenomoresoothsayers:
13ThygravenimagesalsowillIcutoff,andthystanding imagesoutofthemidstofthee;andthoushaltnomore worshiptheworkofthinehands
14AndIwillpluckupthygrovesoutofthemidstofthee: sowillIdestroythycities
15AndIwillexecutevengeanceinangerandfuryupon theheathen,suchastheyhavenotheard
1HearyenowwhattheLORDsaith;Arise,contendthou beforethemountains,andletthehillshearthyvoice.
2Hearye,Omountains,theLORD'Scontroversy,andye strongfoundationsoftheearth:fortheLORDhatha controversywithhispeople,andhewillpleadwithIsrael 3Omypeople,whathaveIdoneuntothee?andwherein haveIweariedthee?testifyagainstme
4ForIbroughttheeupoutofthelandofEgypt,and redeemedtheeoutofthehouseofservants;andIsent beforetheeMoses,Aaron,andMiriam 5Omypeople,remembernowwhatBalakkingofMoab consulted,andwhatBalaamthesonofBeoransweredhim fromShittimuntoGilgal;thatyemayknowthe righteousnessoftheLORD.
6WherewithshallIcomebeforetheLORD,andbow myselfbeforethehighGod?shallIcomebeforehimwith burntofferings,withcalvesofayearold?
7WilltheLORDbepleasedwiththousandsoframs,or withtenthousandsofriversofoil?shallIgivemyfirstborn formytransgression,thefruitofmybodyforthesinofmy soul?
8Hehathshewedthee,Oman,whatisgood;andwhat doththeLORDrequireofthee,buttodojustly,andtolove mercy,andtowalkhumblywiththyGod?
9TheLORD'Svoicecriethuntothecity,andthemanof wisdomshallseethyname:hearyetherod,andwhohath appointedit
10Arethereyetthetreasuresofwickednessinthehouseof thewicked,andthescantmeasurethatisabominable?
11ShallIcountthempurewiththewickedbalances,and withthebagofdeceitfulweights?
12Fortherichmenthereofarefullofviolence,andthe inhabitantsthereofhavespokenlies,andtheirtongueis deceitfulintheirmouth
13ThereforealsowillImaketheesickinsmitingthee,in makingtheedesolatebecauseofthysins
14Thoushalteat,butnotbesatisfied;andthycasting downshallbeinthemidstofthee;andthoushalttakehold, butshaltnotdeliver;andthatwhichthoudeliverestwillI giveuptothesword
15Thoushaltsow,butthoushaltnotreap;thoushalttread theolives,butthoushaltnotanointtheewithoil;andsweet wine,butshaltnotdrinkwine
16ForthestatutesofOmriarekept,andalltheworksof thehouseofAhab,andyewalkintheircounsels;thatI shouldmaketheeadesolation,andtheinhabitantsthereof anhissing:thereforeyeshallbearthereproachofmy people
CHAPTER7
1Woeisme!forIamaswhentheyhavegatheredthe summerfruits,asthegrapegleaningsofthevintage:thereis noclustertoeat:mysouldesiredthefirstripefruit
2Thegoodmanisperishedoutoftheearth:andthereis noneuprightamongmen:theyalllieinwaitforblood; theyhunteverymanhisbrotherwithanet
3Thattheymaydoevilwithbothhandsearnestly,the princeasketh,andthejudgeaskethforareward;andthe
greatman,heutterethhismischievousdesire:sotheywrap itup.
4Thebestofthemisasabrier:themostuprightissharper thanathornhedge:thedayofthywatchmenandthy visitationcometh;nowshallbetheirperplexity.
5Trustyenotinafriend,putyenotconfidenceinaguide: keepthedoorsofthymouthfromherthatliethinthy bosom.
6Forthesondishonoureththefather,thedaughterriseth upagainsthermother,thedaughterinlawagainsther motherinlaw;aman'senemiesarethemenofhisown house
7ThereforeIwilllookuntotheLORD;Iwillwaitforthe Godofmysalvation:myGodwillhearme
8Rejoicenotagainstme,Omineenemy:whenIfall,I shallarise;whenIsitindarkness,theLORDshallbea lightuntome
9IwillbeartheindignationoftheLORD,becauseIhave sinnedagainsthim,untilhepleadmycause,andexecute judgmentforme:hewillbringmeforthtothelight,andI shallbeholdhisrighteousness
10Thenshethatismineenemyshallseeit,andshame shallcoverherwhichsaiduntome,WhereistheLORD thyGod?mineeyesshallbeholdher:nowshallshebe troddendownasthemireofthestreets.
11Inthedaythatthywallsaretobebuilt,inthatdayshall thedecreebefarremoved
12InthatdayalsoheshallcomeeventotheefromAssyria, andfromthefortifiedcities,andfromthefortressevento theriver,andfromseatosea,andfrommountainto mountain.
13Notwithstandingthelandshallbedesolatebecauseof themthatdwelltherein,forthefruitoftheirdoings
14Feedthypeoplewiththyrod,theflockofthineheritage, whichdwellsolitarilyinthewood,inthemidstofCarmel: letthemfeedinBashanandGilead,asinthedaysofold 15Accordingtothedaysofthycomingoutofthelandof EgyptwillIshewuntohimmarvellousthings
16Thenationsshallseeandbeconfoundedatalltheir might:theyshalllaytheirhandupontheirmouth,theirears shallbedeaf
17Theyshalllickthedustlikeaserpent,theyshallmove outoftheirholeslikewormsoftheearth:theyshallbe afraidoftheLORDourGod,andshallfearbecauseofthee 18WhoisaGodlikeuntothee,thatpardonethiniquity, andpassethbythetransgressionoftheremnantofhis heritage?heretainethnothisangerforever,becausehe delightethinmercy.
19Hewillturnagain,hewillhavecompassionuponus;he willsubdueouriniquities;andthouwiltcastalltheirsins intothedepthsofthesea
20ThouwiltperformthetruthtoJacob,andthemercyto Abraham,whichthouhastswornuntoourfathersfromthe daysofold