Micah 1

1Yahweh’s * word that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2Listen, O earth, and all that is therein: the Lord from his holy temple. Hear, you peoples, all of you. * Yahweh be witness against you, 3and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. For, behold, * Yahweh comes out of his place, 4and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place. The mountains melt under him, 5and for the sins of the house of Israel. Isn’t it Samaria? Aren’t they Jerusalem? “All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, What is the disobedience of Jacob? And what are the high places of Judah? 6like places for planting vineyards; and I will uncover its foundations. Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, and I will pour down its stones into the valley, 7and all her temple gifts will be burned with fire, and all her images I will destroy; and to the hire of a prostitute shall they return.” All her idols will be beaten to pieces, for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them, 8I will go stripped and naked; I will howl like the jackals, and moan like the daughters of owls. For this I will lament and wail; 9for it has come even to Judah. even to Jerusalem. For her wounds are incurable; It reaches to the gate of my people, 10Don’t weep at all. * I have rolled myself in the dust. Don’t tell it in Gath. 11The inhabitant of Zaanan won’t come out. The wailing of Beth Ezel will take from you his protection. Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame. 12because evil has come down from Yahweh to the gate of Jerusalem. For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, 13She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; For the transgressions of Israel were found in you. Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. 14The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel. Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath. 15He who is the glory of Israel will come to Adullam. I will yet bring to you, inhabitant of Mareshah. 16and cut off your hair for the children of your delight. for they have gone into captivity from you! Shave your heads, Enlarge your baldness like the vulture;