Micah

2 Alas for them who devise iniquity and work wickedness upon their beds,—In the light of the morning they will execute it, for it is in the power of their hand.

2 Thus do they covet fields and seize them, And houses and take them away,—And so they oppress the master and his household, the man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore—Thus saith Yahweh, Behold me! devising against this family a calamity,—From which ye shall not remove your neck, Neither shall ye walk loftily, For a time of calamity shall it be.

4 In that day shall one Take up against you a by-word And lament a lamentable lamentation Saying—We are made utterly desolate, The portion of my people he passeth to others,—How doth he set me aside! To an apostate our fields doth he apportion.

5 Therefore shalt thou have none to throw a measuring-line by lot,—in the convocation of Yahweh.

6 Do not sputter—So they sputter! They must not sputter as to these things, Must he not put away reproaches?

7 O thou who art said to be the house of Jacob, Is the spirit of Yahweh impatient? Or are these his doings? Are not his words pleasant to him who is upright in his walk?

8 But against my people as an enemy he setteth himself, From off the robe they tear away the cloak,—From such as are passing by with confidence, as men averse from war.

9 The wives of my people ye do even drive out, each from the house of her darlings,—From over her children ye do take away mine ornament as long as life shall last.

10 Arise ye and depart, for this is not the place of rest,—Because it is defiled it shall make desolate with a desolation that is ruthless.

11 If there be a man Who goeth after wind And falsehood hath woven, [saying]—I will discourse to thee, concerning wine and strong drink Then shall he become a fountain of discourse unto this people.

12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel, At once will I make them like sheep in distress,—Like a flock in the midst of its pasture shall they hum with men,

13 One making a breach hath gone up before them, They have broken in and passed through, And by the gate have departed,—And their king hath passed through before them, with Yahweh at their head!