| 2:1 | Those who devise sinful plans are as good as dead,* those who dream about doing evil as they lie in bed.* As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans,* because they have the power to do so. |
| 2:2 | They confiscate the fields they desire, and seize the houses they want.* They defraud people of their homes,* and deprive people of the land they have inherited.* |
| 2:3 | Therefore the Lord says this: “Look, I am devising disaster for this nation!* It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck.* You will no longer* walk proudly, for it will be a time of catastrophe. |
| 2:4 | In that day people will sing this taunt song to you – they will mock you with this lament:* ‘We are completely destroyed; they sell off* the property of my people. How they remove it from me!* They assign our fields to the conqueror.’* |
| 2:5 | Therefore no one will assign you land in the Lord’s community.* |
| 2:6 | ‘Don’t preach with such impassioned rhetoric,’ they say excitedly.* ‘These prophets should not preach of such things; we will not be overtaken by humiliation.’* |
| 2:7 | Does the family* of Jacob say,* ‘The Lord’s patience* can’t be exhausted – he would never do such things’?* To be sure, my commands bring a reward for those who obey them,* |
| 2:8 | but you rise up as an enemy against my people.* You steal a robe from a friend,* from those who pass by peacefully as if returning from a war.* |
| 2:9 | You wrongly evict widows* among my people from their cherished homes. You defraud their children* of their prized inheritance.* |
| 2:10 | But you are the ones who will be forced to leave!* For this land is not secure!* Sin will thoroughly destroy it!* |
| 2:11 | If a lying windbag should come and say,* ‘I’ll promise you blessings of wine and beer,’* he would be just the right preacher for these people!* |
| 2:12 | I will certainly gather all of you, O Jacob, I will certainly assemble those Israelites who remain.* I will bring them together like sheep in a fold,* like a flock in the middle of a pasture;* they will be so numerous that they will make a lot of noise.* |
| 2:13 | The one who can break through barriers will lead them out* they will break out, pass through the gate, and leave.* Their king will advance* before them, The Lord himself will lead them.* |
Micah 2 - NET Bible [draft]
