Micah 2

¹ Woe to those who plot evil, who lie in bed planning mischief! No sooner is it dawn than they do it – their hands have the strength for it.

² Seizing the fields that they covet, they take over houses as well, owner and house they confiscate together, taking both man and inheritance.

³ So Yahweh says this: Now it is I who plot such mischief against this breed as your necks will not escape; nor will you be able to walk proudly, so evil will the time be.

⁴ On that day they will make a satire on you, sing a dirge and say, ‘We are stripped of everything; my people’s portion is measured out and shared, no one will give it back to them, our fields are awarded to our despoiler’.

⁵ Therefore you will have no one to measure out a share in the community of Yahweh.

⁶ ‘Do not rave,’ they rave ‘do not rave like this. No shame is going to overtake us.

⁷ Can the House of Jacob be accursed? Has Yahweh lost patience? Is that his way of going to work? Surely his words are words of kindness for his people Israel?’

⁸ It is you who play the enemy to my people. From the innocent man you snatch his cloak on the man who thinks himself safe you inflict the damage of war.

⁹ The women of my people you drive out from the homes they loved; their children you rob for ever of the honour I gave them,

¹⁰ ‘Get up! Be off! There is no resting here.’ For a worthless thing, you exact an extortionate pledge.

¹¹ Were there a man of inspiration who would invent this lie, ‘I prophesy you wine and strong drink’, he would be the prophet for a people like this.

¹² Yes, I am going to gather all Jacob together, I will gather the remnant of Israel, bring them together like sheep in the fold; like a flock in its pasture they will fear no man.

¹³ He who walks at their head will lead the way in front of them; he will walk at their head, they will pass through the gate and go out by it; their king will go on in front of them, Yahweh at their head.