Micah 3:1-5:15

Leaders and Prophets Rebuked 1Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice,

2you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones;

3who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?”

4Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.

5This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them.

6Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them.

7The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.”

8But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin.

9Hear this, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right;

10who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness.

11Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD ’s support and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.” 12Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.

The Mountain of the LORD 1In the last days the mountain of the LORD ’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

2Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

4Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.

5All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

The LORD’s Plan 6“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief.

7I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.

8As for you, watchtower of the flock, stronghold Or hill of Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.”

9Why do you now cry aloud— have you no king Or King ? Has your ruler Or Ruler perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?

10Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.

11But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!”

12But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD ; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. 13“Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hooves of bronze, and you will break to pieces many nations.” You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem 1In Hebrew texts 5:1 is numbered 4:14, and 5:2-15 is numbered 5:1-14. Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.

2“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans Or rulers of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

3Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.

4He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

5And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders,

6who will rule Or crush the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. Or Nimrod in its gates He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.

7The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for anyone or depend on man.

8The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue.

9Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.

10“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots.

11I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.

12I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells.

13I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.

14I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles That is, wooden symbols of the goddess Asherah when I demolish your cities. 15I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me.”