Micah 1:1-16

This is the prophetic message YAHWEH revealed to Micah of Moresheth. He delivered these prophecies during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. These are his supernatural visions concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Listen, you peoples—all of you! Earth, pay attention —and everyone on it. From his holy temple, the Lord YAHWEH himself will testify against you. For behold, YAHWEH is leaving his dwelling place. Here he comes to tread upon the high places of the land. Mountains melt beneath his feet, like wax melting near a raging fire. Valleys are split wide open, like water pouring down a steep slope. All of this is because of the rebellion of Jacob’s tribes, the sin of the people of Israel. So who is to blame for the rebellion of Jacob? Is it not the people of Samaria? Who is to blame for the idolatry of the high places of Judah? Is it not the people of Jerusalem? “So I will wrestle Samaria to the ground, and she will become nothing more than an open field for planting vines. I will roll the stones of her buildings down into the valley until I have laid bare her foundations. I will hammer to pieces all her gilded pagan idols, all the gifts given to her sacred prostitutes will be scorched by fire. I will turn all her precious idols into a pile of rubble. For she—Samaria—gathered her treasured idols as a prostitute collects her fees, and now these idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.” I will mourn and wail because of this. I will walk around barefoot and bare to show my sorrow. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an owl. For her wound is incurable, and her infection is spreading to Judah. It has even reached the gateway of my people, to Jerusalem itself. Show no tears in Showtown (Gath). People of Dusty House (Beth Leaphrah), wallow in the dust of your despair! You’ll take a different path, Glamour-Girl-Town (Shaphir); you’ll go into exile naked and ashamed. You citizens of Outbound City (Zaanan) are stuck at home. Your next-door neighbor (Beth Ezel) is in mourning and will no longer be able to help you. The women of Bitterville (Maroth) writhed in labor pains, hoping for good to come. Instead, YAHWEH sent down disaster all the way to the gates of Jerusalem itself. Start up your chariots, you people of Ponytown (Lachish), for the sin of the daughter of Zion can be traced back to you, where Israel’s sin began. People of Judah, give gifts to Moresheth Gath, as you would to a daughter who is leaving home to be married. The Domiciles of Deception (Beth Achzib) will deceive the kings of Israel. People of Mareshah, YAHWEH will again bring a conqueror against you, and the glory of Israel will flee to the cave of Adullam. Cut off your hair and make yourselves bald, for your delightful children are taken away. Make yourselves as bald as a vulture, for your children have been taken away from you into exile.