Micah 2
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 2
Those Who Covet Fields and Homes
1 Woe to those who plot evil,
who lie in their beds planning iniquity.
When morning dawns they perform their wicked deeds
since they have the power to do so.
2 They seize the fields that they covet;
they confiscate houses as well.
They lay hands on the owner of a house,
and take his inheritance as well.
3 Therefore, thus says the Lord:
Behold, I am planning against this people an evil
from which you will not be able to save your necks.
Nor will you walk proudly,
for it will be a time of disaster.
4 On that day they will ridicule you,
and your mournful dirge will be heard:
“We are utterly ruined;
our land has been appropriated by our captors.
Our fields have been awarded to renegades,
and no one can retrieve them.”
5 Therefore, you will have no one
to divide the land by lot
in the assembly of the Lord.
Against Prophets of Ease
6 “Do not preach,” they advise;
“one should not expound on such matters;
disgrace will not overtake us.”
7 O house of Jacob, should it be said:
“Has the Lord’s patience been exhausted?
Does he do such things?
His words only prophesy good
to those who are upright.”
8 But now you have risen up
as an enemy to my people.
You strip the cloaks from travelers
who pass by peacefully,
or from soldiers returning from battle.
9 The women of my people you drive forth
from their pleasant homes
and deprive their children
of my glory forever,
10 commanding them, “Get up and depart,
for you cannot stay here.”
To obtain something worthless for yourselves,
you do not hesitate to practice extortion.
I Will Assemble the Remnant of Israel
11 If someone were to go about
uttering falsehoods and lies, and saying,
“I prophesy that you will have your fill
of wine and strong drink,”
such a man would be the perfect prophet
for a people like this.
12 I will gather all of you together, O Jacob;
I will assemble the remnant of Israel.
I will gather them together
like sheep into a fold,
like a flock in a pasture;
no longer will they be filled with panic.
13 With their leader proceeding before them,
they shall break through the gate and go out.
Their king will go forth before them,
the Lord at their head.
Micah 2
New Century Version
The Evil Plans of People
2 How terrible it will be for people who plan wickedness,
who lie on their beds and make evil plans.
When the morning light comes, they do what they planned,
because they have the power to do so.
2 They want fields, so they take them;
they want houses, so they take them away.
They cheat people to get their houses;
they rob them even of their property.
3 That is why the Lord says:
“Look, I am planning trouble against such people,
and you won’t be able to save yourselves.
You will no longer walk proudly,
because it will be a terrible time.
4 At that time people will make fun of you
and sing this sad song about you:
‘We are completely ruined;
the Lord has taken away my people’s land.
Yes, he has taken it away from me
and divided our fields among our enemies!’”
5 So you will have no one from the Lord’s people
to throw lots to divide the land.
Micah Is Asked Not to Prophesy
6 The prophets say, “Don’t prophesy to us!
Don’t prophesy about these things!
Nothing to make us feel bad will happen!”
7 But I must say this, people of Jacob:
The Lord is becoming angry about what you have done.
My words are welcome
to the person who does what is right.
8 But you are fighting against my people like an enemy.
You take the coats from people who pass by;
you rob them of their safety;
you plan war.
9 You’ve forced the women of my people
from their nice houses;
you’ve taken my glory
from their children forever.
10 Get up and leave.
This is not your place of rest anymore.
You have made this place unclean,
and it is doomed to destruction.
11 But you people want a false prophet
who will tell you nothing but lies.
You want one who promises to prophesy good things for you
if you give him wine and beer.
He’s just the prophet for you.
The Lord Promises to Rescue His People
12 “Yes, people of Jacob, I will bring all of you together;
I will bring together all those left alive in Israel.
I will put them together like sheep in a pen,
like a flock in its pasture;
the place will be filled with many people.
13 Someone will open the way and lead the people out.
The people will break through the gate and leave the city where they were held captive.
Their king will go out in front of them,
and the Lord will lead them.”
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
