Micah 1

1The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.footnote afootnote b

3For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

4And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.footnote c

5For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?

6Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

7And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

8Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.footnote d

9For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.footnote e

10Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.footnote f

11Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall receive of you his standing.footnote gfootnote hfootnote ifootnote j

12For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.footnote kfootnote l

13O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.footnote m

14Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.footnote nfootnote o

15Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.footnote pfootnote q

16Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

Judgment to Come

1This 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:

2Hear, O peoples, all of you;listen, O earth, and everyone in it!May the Lord GOD bear witness against you,the Lord from His holy temple. 3For behold, the LORD comes forthfrom His dwelling place;He will come down and treadon the high places of the earth. 4The mountains will melt beneath Him,and the valleys will split apart,like wax before the fire,like water rushing down a slope.

5All this is for the transgression of Jacoband 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?

6Therefore I will make Samariaa heap of rubble in the open field,a planting area for a vineyard.I will pour her stones into the valleyand expose her foundations. 7All 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.

Weeping and Mourning

8Because of this I will lament and wail;I will walk barefoot and naked.I will howl like a jackalfootnote aand mourn like an ostrich.footnote b 9For her wound is incurable;it has reached even Judah;it has approached the gate of my people,as far as Jerusalem itself.

10Do not tell it in Gath;footnote cdo not weep at all.Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.footnote d 11Depart in shameful nakedness,O dwellers of Shaphir.footnote eThe dwellers of Zaananfootnote fwill not come out.Beth-ezelfootnote gis in mourning;its support is taken from you. 12For the dwellers of Marothfootnote hpined for good,but calamity came down from the LORD,even to the gate of Jerusalem.

13Harness your chariot horses,O dweller of Lachish.footnote iYou were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion,for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. 14Therefore, send farewell giftsfootnote jto Moresheth-gath;footnote kthe houses of Achzibfootnote lwill prove deceptiveto the kings of Israel. 15I will again bring a conqueror against you,O dweller of Mareshah.footnote mThe glory of Israel will come to Adullam. 16Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hairin mourning for your precious children;make yourselves as bald as an eagle,for they will go from you into exile.