1 The word of the LORD that came ⓕ to Micah ⓖ the Moreshite ⓗ — what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem in the days of Jotham, ⓘ Ahaz, ⓙ and Hezekiah, ⓚ kings of Judah.
2 Listen, all you peoples; ⓛ pay attention, earth [1] and everyone in it! ⓜ The Lord GOD will be a witness against you, ⓝ the Lord, from his holy temple. ⓐ
3 Look, the LORD is leaving his place ⓑ and coming down to trample the heights [2] of the earth. ⓒ
4 The mountains will melt beneath him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax near a fire, ⓓ like water cascading down a mountainside.
5 All this will happen because of Jacob’s rebellion and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the rebellion of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria? ⓔ And what is the high place of Judah? ⓕ Isn’t it Jerusalem?
6 Therefore, I will make Samaria a heap of ruins ⓖ in the countryside, a planting area ⓗ for a vineyard. I will roll her stones ⓘ into the valley and expose her foundations. ⓙ
7 All her carved images will be smashed ⓚ to pieces; all her wages ⓛ will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, ⓜ they will be used again for a prostitute.
8 Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. ⓝ I will howl like the jackals ⓐ and mourn like ostriches. [3]
9 For her wound is incurable ⓑ and has reached even Judah; ⓒ it has approached my people’s city gate, ⓓ as far as Jerusalem.
10 Don’t announce it in Gath, ⓔ don’t weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.
11 Depart in shameful nakedness, ⓕ you residents of Shaphir; the residents of Zaanan ⓖ will not come out. Beth-ezel is lamenting; its support [4] is taken from you.
12 Though the residents of Maroth anxiously wait for something good, ⓗ disaster has come from the LORD ⓘ to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Harness the horses to the chariot, you residents of Lachish. ⓙ This was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zion because Israel’s acts of rebellion ⓚ can be traced to you.
14 Therefore, send farewell gifts ⓛ to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib ⓜ are a deception ⓝ to the kings of Israel.
15 I will again bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. ⓐ The nobility [5] of Israel will come to Adullam. ⓑ
16 Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair ⓒ in sorrow for your precious children; make yourselves as bald as an eagle, for they have been taken from you into exile. ⓓ