CHAPTER 1
This is the word
of the LORD
that
came
to
Micah
the Moreshite
in the days
of Jotham,
Ahaz,
and Hezekiah,
kings
of Judah—
what
he saw
regarding
Samaria
and Jerusalem:
Hear,
O peoples,
all of you;
listen,
O earth,
and everyone in it!
The Lord
GOD
will
witness
against you,
the Lord
from His holy
temple.
For
behold,
the LORD
comes forth
out of His dwelling place;
He will come down
and tread
on
the high places
of the earth.
The mountains
will melt
beneath Him,
and the valleys
will split apart,
like wax
before
the fire,
like water
cascading down
a slope.
All
this is
for the transgression
of Jacob
and the sins
of the house
of Israel.
What
is the transgression
of Jacob?
Is it not
Samaria?
And what
is the high place
of Judah?
Is it not
Jerusalem?
Therefore I will make
Samaria
a heap of rubble
in the open field,
a planting area
for a vineyard.
I will pour
her stones
into the valley
and expose
her foundations.
All
her carved images
will be smashed to pieces;
all
her wages
will be burned
in the fire,
and I will destroy
all
her idols.
Since
she collected
the wages
of a prostitute,
they
will be used again
on a prostitute.
Because of
this
I will lament
and wail;
I will walk
barefoot
and naked.
I will howl
like a jackal
and mourn
like
an ostrich.
For
her wound
is incurable;
it has reached
even Judah;
it has approached
the gate
of my people,
as far as
Jerusalem itself.
Depart
in shameful
nakedness,
O residents
of Shaphir.
The inhabitants
of Zaanan
will not
come out.
Beth-ezel
is in mourning;
its support
is taken
from you.
For
the residents
of Maroth
pined
for good,
but
calamity
came down
from
the LORD,
even to the gate
of Jerusalem.
Harness
the horses
to the chariot,
O inhabitant
of Lachish.
You were
the beginning
of sin
to the daughter
of Zion,
for
the transgressions
of Israel
were found
in you.
Therefore,
send
farewell gifts
to
Moresheth-gath;
the houses
of Achzib
will prove deceptive
to the kings
of Israel.
I will again
bring
a conqueror
against you,
O inhabitant
of Mareshah.
The glory
of Israel
will come
to
Adullam.
Shave yourselves bald
and cut off your hair
in morning for
your precious
children;
make yourselves
as bald
as an eagle,
for
they will go from you
into exile.