מיכה ב

Ah, those who plan iniquity
And design evil on their beds;
When morning dawns, they do it,
For they have the power.

They covet fields, and seize them;
Houses, and take them away.
They defraud men of their homes,
And people of their land.

Assuredly, thus said GOD: I am planning such a misfortune against this clan that you will not be able to free your necks from it. You will not be able to walk erect; it will be such a time of disaster.

In that day,
One shall recite a poem about you,
And utter a bitter lament,
And shall say:
“My people’s portion changes hands;
How it slips away from me!
Our field is allotted to a rebel.
We are utterly ravaged.”

Truly, none of you
Shall cast a lot cord
In the assembly of GOD!

“Stop preaching!” they preach.
“That’s no way to preach;
Shame shall not overtake [us].

Is the House of Jacob condemned?
Is GOD’s patience short?
Has such been the practice?”
To be sure, My words are friendly
To those who walk in rectitude;

But an enemy arises against My people.
You strip the mantle with the cloak
Off such as pass unsuspecting,
Who are turned away from war.

You drive the women of My people away
From their pleasant homes;
You deprive their infants
Of My glory forever.

Up and depart!
This is no resting place
Because of [your] defilement.
Terrible destruction shall befall.

If someone were to go about uttering
Windy, baseless falsehoods:
“I’ll preach to you in favor of wine and liquor”—
That would be a preacher [acceptable] to this people.

I will assemble Jacob, all of you;
I will bring together the remnant of Israel;
I will make them all like sheep of Bozrah,].”
Like a flock inside its pen—
They will be noisy with people.

One who makes a breach
Goes before them;
They enlarge it to a gate
And leave by it.
Their king marches before them,
GOD at their head.