<t /><p class="bodytext">This is the prophetic message that the <sc>Lordsc> gave to<n id="1" /> Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message<n id="2" /> during the reigns of<n id="3" /> Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to<n id="4" /> Samaria<n id="5" /> and Jerusalem.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">You<n id="1" /> devour my people&#8217;s flesh,p> <p class="poetry">strip off their skin,p> <p class="poetry">and crush their bones.p> <p class="poetry">You chop them up like flesh in a pot<n id="2" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">like meat in a kettle.p>

<t /><p class="poetry">&#8220;In that day,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;I will gather the lame,p> <p class="poetry">and assemble the outcasts whom I injured.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">I will angrily seek vengeancep> <p class="poetry">on the nations that do not obey me.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">The city&#8217;s rich men think nothing of resorting to violence;<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">her inhabitants lie,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">their tongues speak deceptive words.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">You will be loyal to Jacobp> <p class="poetry">and extend your loyal love to Abraham,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">which you promised on oath to our ancestors<n id="2" />p> <p class="bodytext">in ancient times.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Someday these sinners will cry to the <sc>Lordsc> for help,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">but he will not answer them.p> <p class="poetry">He will hide his face from them at that time,p> <p class="poetry">because they have done such wicked deeds.&#8221;p>

<t /><p class="poetry">Listen to what the <sc>Lordsc> says:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Get up! Defend yourself<n id="1" /> before the mountains!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Present your case before the hills!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">You will eat, but not be satisfied.p> <p class="poetry">Even if you have the strength<n id="1" /> to overtake some prey,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">you will not be able to carry it away;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">if you do happen to carry away something,p> <p class="poetry">I will deliver it over to the sword.p>

<p class="poetry">I must endure<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s anger,p> <p class="poetry">for I have sinned against him.p> <p class="poetry">But then<n id="2" /> he will defend my cause,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and accomplish justice on my behalf.p> <p class="poetry">He will lead me out into the light;p> <p class="poetry">I will experience firsthand<n id="4" /> his deliverance.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">Therefore the <sc>Lordsc> says this: &#8220;Look, I am devising disaster for this nation!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">You will no longer<n id="3" /> walk proudly,p> <p class="poetry">for it will be a time of catastrophe.p>

<p class="poetry">This is what the <sc>Lordsc> says: &#8220;The prophets who mislead my peoplep> <p class="poetry">are as good as dead.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">If someone gives them enough to eat,p> <p class="poetry">they offer an oracle of peace.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">But if someone does not give them food,p> <p class="poetry">they are ready to declare war on him.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Those survivors from<n id="1" /> Jacob will live<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">in the midst of many nations.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">They will be like the dew the <sc>Lordsc> sends,p> <p class="poetry">like the rain on the grass,p> <p class="poetry">that does not hope for men to comep> <p class="poetry">or wait around for humans to arrive.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,p> <p class="poetry">in the midst of many peoples.p> <p class="poetry">They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,p> <p class="poetry">like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,p> <p class="poetry">which attacks when it passes through;p> <p class="poetry">it rips its prey<n id="1" /> and there is no one to stop it.<n id="2" />p>