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Micah

Foretells judgment and restoration for Jerusalem and emphasizes doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. ... click to read full summary of this book.

Chapter 2

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Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

Woe to those who plan wickedness and do bad things while lying in bed. In the morning, they continue with their plans because they can easily do it.

And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.

They want land and take it forcefully, also taking houses. This causes them to mistreat people, their homes, and their family property.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.

So, God says this: I am planning something bad for this family, and they can't escape it. They won't be proud either, because this is a very bad time.

In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.

On that day, someone will use a comparison to criticize you sadly, saying, "We are completely ruined! He has taken away the land given to my people and moved it elsewhere, without any reason, and has divided our lands."

Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.

So, you must not allow anyone to use a random selection method in the Lord's community.

Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

"Don't predict anything," they tell the people who predict things. "We don't want to hear it," they say, "so they won't feel embarrassed."

O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?

O you called the home of Jacob, does the Lord's spirit limit its actions? Are these deeds by Him? Don't my words benefit those who walk righteously?

Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.

Even now, my people act like enemies: you take away their clothes from those who walk peacefully, like they don't want anything to do with fighting.

The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.

You removed the women from my people's nice homes; you took away my honor from their children forever.

Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

Get up and leave; this place isn't your home, as it's contaminated and will harm you severely.

If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.

If a person walks in the Spirit but tells lies about prophesying about wine and strong drinks, they will become a prophet for the people.

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

I will definitely bring you together, Jacob. I will also gather the remaining people of Israel. I will unite them like sheep from Bozrah, a group in the center of their pen. They will make a big noise because there will be so many people.

The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.

The strong leader has arrived; they have broken through and gone out the door. Their king will lead them, followed by the Lord above them.

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