1The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham , Ahaz , and Hezekiah , kings of Judah , which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem . 2Hear , all ye people ; hearken , O earth , and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple . 3For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place , and will come down , and tread upon the high places of the earth . 4And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft , as wax before the fire , and as the waters that are poured down a steep place .
The Reasons for Judgment
5For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel . What is the transgression of Jacob ? is it not Samaria ? and what are the high places of Judah ? are they not Jerusalem ? 6Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field , and as plantings of a vineyard : and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley , and I will discover the foundations thereof. 7And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces , and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire , and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate : for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot , and they shall return to the hire of an harlot .
The Lamentation of Micah
8Therefore I will wail and howl , I will go stripped and naked : I will make a wailing like the dragons , and mourning as the owls . 9For her wound is incurable ; for it is come unto Judah ; he is come unto the gate of my people , even to Jerusalem . 10Declare ye it not at Gath , weep ye not at all : in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust .
The Consequences of Sin
11Pass ye away , thou inhabitant of Saphir , having thy shame naked : the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel ; he shall receive of you his standing . 12For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good : but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem . 13O thou inhabitant of Lachish , bind the chariot to the swift beast : she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion : for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee. 14Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath : the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel . 15Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah : he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel . 16Make thee bald , and poll thee for thy delicate children ; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle ; for they are gone into captivity from thee.