I am Micah from Moresheth. And this is the message about Samaria and Jerusalem that the Lord gave to me when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were the kings of Judah.

Judgment on Samaria

Listen, all of you! Earth and everything on it, pay close attention. The Lord God accuses you from his holy temple.

This will happen because of the terrible sins of Israel, the descendants of Jacob. Samaria has led Israel to sin, and pagan altars at Jerusalem have made Judah sin.

So the Lord will leave Samaria in ruins— merely an empty field where vineyards are planted. He will scatter its stones and destroy its foundations.

Samaria's idols will be smashed, and the wages of temple prostitutes will be destroyed by fire. Silver and gold from those idols will then be used by foreigners as payment for prostitutes.

Judah Is Doomed

Because of this tragedy, I go barefoot and naked. My crying and weeping sound like howling wolves or ostriches.

Depart naked and ashamed, you people of Shaphir. The town of Bethezel mourns because no one from Zaanan went out to help.

Everyone in Maroth hoped for the best, but the Lord sent disaster down on Jerusalem.

Get the war chariots ready, you people of Lachish. You led Jerusalem into sin, just as Israel did.

People of Mareshah, the Lord will send someone to capture your town. Then Israel's glorious king will be forced to hide in Adullam Cave.

Judah, shave your head as bald as a vulture and start mourning. Your precious children will be dragged off to a foreign country.

But here is what the Lord says: “I am planning trouble for you. Your necks will be caught in a noose, and you will be disgraced in this time of disaster.”

When that happens, this sorrowful song will be sung about you: “Ruined! Completely ruined! The Lord has taken our land and given it to traitors.”

And so you will never again own property among the Lord's people.

“Enough of your preaching!” That's what you tell me. “We won't be disgraced, so stop preaching!”

My people, you have turned against one another! You have even stolen clothes right off the backs of innocent neighbors who pass by in peace.

The only prophet you want is a liar who will say, “Drink and get drunk!”

A Promise of Hope

I, the Lord, promise to bring together the people of Israel who have survived. I will gather them, just as a shepherd brings sheep together, and there will be many.

but you prefer to do evil instead of what is right. You skin my people alive. You strip off their flesh,

Someday you will beg the Lord to help you, but he will turn away because of your sins.

You lying prophets promise security for anyone who gives you food, but disaster for anyone who refuses to feed you. Here is what the Lord says to you prophets:

“You will live in the dark, far from the sight of the sun, with no message from me.

But the Lord has filled me with power and his Spirit. I have been given the courage to speak about justice and to tell you people of Israel that you have sinned.

So listen to my message, you rulers of Israel! You hate justice and twist the truth.

You leaders accept bribes for dishonest decisions. You priests and prophets teach and preach, but only for money. Then you say, “The Lord is on our side. No harm will come to us.”