Micah 6:10-12

6:10 “I will not overlook, O sinful house, the dishonest gain you have hoarded away,

or the smaller-than-standard measure I hate so much.

6:11 I do not condone the use of rigged scales,

or a bag of deceptive weights.

6:12 The city’s rich men think nothing of resorting to violence;

her inhabitants lie,

their tongues speak deceptive words.


tn The meaning of the first Hebrew word in the line is unclear. Possibly it is a combination of the interrogative particle and אִשׁ (’ish), an alternate form of יֵשׁ (yesh, “there is/are”). One could then translate literally, “Are there treasures of sin [in] the house of the sinful?” The translation assumes an emendation to הַאֶשֶּׁה (haesheh, from נָשָׁא, nasha’, “to forget”), “Will I forget?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “No, I will not forget.”

tn Heb “the treasures of sin”; NASB “treasures of wickedness”; NIV “ill-gotten treasures.”

tn Heb “the accursed scant measure.”

tn Heb “Do I acquit sinful scales, and a bag of deceptive weights?” The rhetorical question expects an answer, “No, I do not,” and has been translated as a declarative statement for clarity and emphasis.

tn Heb “because her rich are full of violence.”

tn Heb “speak lies.”

tn Heb “and their tongue is deceptive in their mouth.”