The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Micah. (a. V.)
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1 Woe 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 And 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 Therefore 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 ¶ In 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 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall * cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the Lord.

6∥†* Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

7 ¶ O 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 Even † 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 The ∥ women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.

10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.

11 If 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 ¶ I 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 The 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.

[* ] Is. 5. 8.

[∥ ] Or, defraud.

[† ] Heb. with a lamentation of lamentations.

[∥ ] Or, instead of restoring.

[* ] Deut. 32 8, 9.

[∥ ] Or, Prophesy not as they prophesy.

[† ] Heb. Drop, &c.

[* ] Is 30. 10.

[∥ ] Or, shortened?

[† ] Heb. upright?

[† ] Heb. yesterday.

[† ] Heb. over against a garment.

[∥ ] Or, wives.

[∥ ] Or, walk with the wind, and lie falsely.