Grief over Samaria and Jerusalem

2Attention! Let all the people of the world listen!

Let the earth and everything in it hear.

The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you;

the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.

3Look! The Lord is coming!

He leaves his throne in heaven

and tramples the heights of the earth.

4The mountains melt beneath his feet

and flow into the valleys

like wax in a fire,

like water pouring down a hill.

5And why is this happening?

Because of the rebellion of Israel*1:5 Hebrew Jacob; also in 1:5b. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.—

yes, the sins of the whole nation.

Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion?

Samaria, its capital city!

Where is the center of idolatry in Judah?

In Jerusalem, its capital!

6“So I, the Lord, will make the city of Samaria

a heap of ruins.

Her streets will be plowed up

for planting vineyards.

I will roll the stones of her walls into the valley below,

exposing her foundations.

7All her carved images will be smashed.

All her sacred treasures will be burned.

These things were bought with the money

earned by her prostitution,

and they will now be carried away

to pay prostitutes elsewhere.”

8Therefore, I will mourn and lament.

I will walk around barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

9For my people’s wound

is too deep to heal.

It has reached into Judah,

even to the gates of Jerusalem.

10Don’t tell our enemies in Gath*1:10a Gath sounds like the Hebrew term for “tell.”;

don’t weep at all.

You people in Beth-leaphrah,*1:10b Beth-leaphrah means “house of dust.”

roll in the dust to show your despair.

11You people in Shaphir,*1:11a Shaphir means “pleasant.”

go as captives into exile—naked and ashamed.

The people of Zaanan*1:11b Zaanan sounds like the Hebrew term for “come out.”

dare not come outside their walls.

The people of Beth-ezel*1:11c Beth-ezel means “adjoining house.” mourn,

for their house has no support.

12The people of Maroth*1:12 Maroth sounds like the Hebrew term for “bitter.” anxiously wait for relief,

but only bitterness awaits them

as the Lord’s judgment reaches

even to the gates of Jerusalem.

13Harness your chariot horses and flee,

you people of Lachish.*1:13a Lachish sounds like the Hebrew term for “team of horses.”

You were the first city in Judah

to follow Israel in her rebellion,

and you led Jerusalem*1:13b Hebrew the daughter of Zion. into sin.

14Send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath*1:14a Moresheth sounds like the Hebrew term for “gift” or “dowry.”;

there is no hope of saving it.

The town of Aczib*1:14b Aczib means “deception.”

has deceived the kings of Israel.

15O people of Mareshah,*1:15a Mareshah sounds like the Hebrew term for “conqueror.”

I will bring a conqueror to capture your town.

And the leaders*1:15b Hebrew the glory. of Israel

will go to Adullam.

16Oh, people of Judah, shave your heads in sorrow,

for the children you love will be snatched away.

Make yourselves as bald as a vulture,

for your little ones will be exiled to distant lands.

Micah 2

Judgment against Wealthy Oppressors

1What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,

thinking up evil plans.

You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,

simply because you have the power to do so.

2When you want a piece of land,

you find a way to seize it.

When you want someone’s house,

you take it by fraud and violence.

You cheat a man of his property,

stealing his family’s inheritance.

3But this is what the Lord says:

“I will reward your evil with evil;

you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose.

You will no longer walk around proudly,

for it will be a terrible time.”

4In that day your enemies will make fun of you

by singing this song of despair about you:

“We are finished,

completely ruined!

God has confiscated our land,

taking it from us.

He has given our fields

to those who betrayed us.*2:4 Or to those who took us captive.”

5Others will set your boundaries then,

and the Lord’s people will have no say

in how the land is divided.

True and False Prophets

6“Don’t say such things,”

the people respond.*2:6 Or the prophets respond; Hebrew reads they prophesy.

“Don’t prophesy like that.

Such disasters will never come our way!”

7Should you talk that way, O family of Israel?*2:7 Hebrew O house of Jacob? See note on 1:5a.

Will the Lord’s Spirit have patience with such behavior?

If you would do what is right,

you would find my words comforting.

8Yet to this very hour

my people rise against me like an enemy!

You steal the shirts right off the backs

of those who trusted you,

making them as ragged as men

returning from battle.

9You have evicted women from their pleasant homes

and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.

10Up! Begone!

This is no longer your land and home,

for you have filled it with sin

and ruined it completely.

11Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you,

“I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!”

That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!

Hope for Restoration

12“Someday, O Israel, I will gather you;

I will gather the remnant who are left.

I will bring you together again like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in its pasture.

Yes, your land will again

be filled with noisy crowds!

13Your leader will break out

and lead you out of exile,

out through the gates of the enemy cities,

back to your own land.

Your king will lead you;

the Lord himself will guide you.”