Micah

Justice, mercy, and Bethlehem

1. Verse 1Woe 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.
2. Verse 2And 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.
3. Verse 3Therefore 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.
4. Verse 4In 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.
5. Verse 5Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
6. Verse 6Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
7. Verse 7O 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?
8. Verse 8Even 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.
9. Verse 9The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
10. Verse 10Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
11. Verse 11If 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.
12. Verse 12I 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.
13. Verse 13The 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.