Micah 2

New International Version

Human Plans and God’s Plans

2 Woe to those who plan iniquity,
    to those who plot evil^(A) on their beds!^(B)
At morning’s light they carry it out
    because it is in their power to do it.
²They covet fields^(C) and seize them,^(D)
    and houses, and take them.
They defraud^(E) people of their homes,
    they rob them of their inheritance.^(F)

³Therefore, the Lord says:

“I am planning disaster^(G) against this people,
    from which you cannot save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,^(H)
    for it will be a time of calamity.
⁴In that day people will ridicule you;
    they will taunt you with this mournful song:
‘We are utterly ruined;^(I)
    my people’s possession is divided up.^(J)
He takes it from me!
    He assigns our fields to traitors.’”

⁵Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the Lord
to divide the land^(K) by lot.^(L)

False Prophets

⁶“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say.
    “Do not prophesy about these things;
    disgrace^(M) will not overtake us.^(N)”
⁷You descendants of Jacob, should it be said,
    “Does the Lord become^[a] impatient?
    Does he do such things?”

“Do not my words do good^(O)
    to the one whose ways are upright?^(P)
⁸Lately my people have risen up
    like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
    from those who pass by without a care,
    like men returning from battle.
⁹You drive the women of my people
    from their pleasant homes.^(Q)
You take away my blessing
    from their children forever.
¹⁰Get up, go away!
    For this is not your resting place,^(R)
because it is defiled,^(S)
    it is ruined, beyond all remedy.
¹¹If a liar and deceiver^(T) comes and says,
    ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’^(U)
    that would be just the prophet for this people!^(V)

Deliverance Promised

¹²“I will surely gather all of you, Jacob;
    I will surely bring together the remnant^(W) of Israel.
I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,
    like a flock in its pasture;
    the place will throng with people.^(X)
¹³The One who breaks open the way will go up before^(Y) them;
    they will break through the gate^(Z) and go out.
Their King will pass through before them,
    the Lord at their head.”