1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

² Hear, you peoples, all of you,listen, earth and all who live in it,that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you,the Lord from his holy temple.

Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem

³ Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth.⁴ The mountains melt beneath himand the valleys split apart,like wax before the fire,like water rushing down a slope.⁵ All this is because of Jacob’s transgression,because of the sins of the people of Israel.What is Jacob’s transgression?Is it not Samaria?What is Judah’s high place?Is it not Jerusalem?

⁶ “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble,a place for planting vineyards.I will pour her stones into the valleyand lay bare her foundations.⁷ All her idols will be broken to pieces;all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;I will destroy all her images.Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”

Weeping and Mourning

⁸ Because of this I will weep and wail;I will go about barefoot and naked.I will howl like a jackaland moan like an owl.⁹ For Samaria’s plague is incurable;it has spread to Judah.It has reached the very gate of my people,even to Jerusalem itself.¹⁰ Tell it not in Gath^[a];weep not at all.In Beth Ophrah^[b]roll in the dust.¹¹ Pass by naked and in shame,you who live in Shaphir.^[c]Those who live in Zaanan^[d]will not come out.Beth Ezel is in mourning;it no longer protects you.¹² Those who live in Maroth^[e] writhe in pain,waiting for relief,because disaster has come from the Lord,even to the gate of Jerusalem.¹³ You who live in Lachish,harness fast horses to the chariot.You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began,for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.¹⁴ Therefore you will give parting giftsto Moresheth Gath.The town of Akzib^[f] will prove deceptiveto the kings of Israel.¹⁵ I will bring a conqueror against youwho live in Mareshah.^[g]The nobles of Israelwill flee to Adullam.¹⁶ Shave your head in mourningfor the children in whom you delight;make yourself as bald as the vulture,for they will go from you into exile.

Human Plans and God’s Plans

2 Woe to those who plan iniquity,to those who plot evil on their beds!At morning’s light they carry it outbecause it is in their power to do it.