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