Micah 3

Rulers Denounced

1And I said, “1Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to 2know justice?2You who hate good and love evil, Who 3tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones,3Who 4eat the flesh of my people, Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones And 5chop them up as for the pot And as meat in a kettle.”4Then they will 6cry out to the Lord, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will 7hide His face from them at that time Because they have 8practiced evil deeds.

5Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who 9lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They 10cry, “Peace,” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war.6Therefore it will be 11night for you--without vision, And darkness for you--without divination. The 12sun will go down on the prophets, And the day will become dark over them.7The seers will be 13ashamed And the 14diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all 15cover their 16mouths Because there is 17no answer from God.8On the other hand 18I am filled with power-- With the Spirit of the Lord-- And with justice and courage To 19make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin.9Now hear this, 20heads of the house of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel, Who 21abhor justice And twist everything that is straight,10Who 22build Zion with bloodshed And Jerusalem with violent injustice.11Her leaders pronounce 23judgment for a bribe, Her 24priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, “25Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us.”12Therefore, on account of you 26Zion will be plowed as a field, 27Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, And the 28mountain of the 29temple will become high places of a forest.