Micah 2

1 Woe [a cry of sorrow, deep regret] to those who devise [plan and plot, conceive in their minds] iniquity [wickedness, unrighteousness] and plot [work out, bring to pass] evil [bad, morally wrong] on their beds [places of rest, intimate settings]! At morning’s [break of day, new beginning] light [enlightenment, understanding] they accomplish [carry out, bring to pass] it because the power [strength, ability] is in their hands [under their control, at their disposal]. word study 2 They covet [desire, take great pleasure in] fields and seize [plunder, take by force] them; they take away [rob, violently seize] houses. They deprive [oppress, cheat] a man [a great man] of his home [dwelling place], a fellow man [an individual, a person] of his inheritance [property, family heirloom]. word study 3 Therefore [thus, in this manner] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] says: “I am planning [devising, plotting] against this nation [family, clan] a disaster [evil, calamity] from which you cannot [will not be able to] free your necks [remove your burdens]. Then you will not walk [go, live] so proudly [haughtily, arrogantly], for it will be a time [season, occasion] of calamity [evil, distress]. word study 4 In that day [a time of reckoning, a future era] they will take up a proverb [a lament, a mocking saying] against you and taunt you with this bitter lamentation [a song of sorrow, a wailing]: ‘We are utterly ruined [completely devastated, spoiled]! He [the Lord] has changed [exchanged, altered] the portion [inheritance, allotment] of my people [nation, community]. How [in what way, why] He has removed [taken away, departed from] it from me! He has allotted [divided, assigned] our fields [land, territory] to traitors [rebels, backsliders].’” word study 5 Therefore [so, thus], you will have no one [none, any] in the assembly [congregation, group of people] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] to divide [cast, throw] the land [territory, property] by lot [allotted portion, pebble used for decision]. word study 6 “Do not [refrain from, cease] preach [prophesy, speak by inspiration],” they preach [prophesy, utter words]. “Do not [by no means] preach [speak, prophesy] these things [such messages, these warnings]; disgrace [shame, reproach] will not [certainly not] overtake [come upon, catch up to] us [the family of Jacob].” word study 7 Should it be said, O house [dwelling place, family] of Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah], “Is the Spirit [breath of life, wind, or mind] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] impatient [quickly made angry, straitened]? Are these [specific] the things He does [deeds, acts, practices]?” Do not My words [things, matters, affairs] bring good [pleasing, joyful, beautiful] to him who walks [goes, moves, lives] uprightly [straight, just, conveniently right]? word study 8 But of late [previously, yesterday] My people [Amaw, a nation or community] have risen up [stood in opposition] like an enemy [one who hates or opposes]: You strip off [remove, plunder] the splendid robe [robe of honor, eder] from unsuspecting [secure, without fear] passersby [those who cross over, transition] like men [soldiers, warriors] returning [turning back, coming home] from battle [war, conflict]. word study 9 You drive [force away, expel] the women [females, wives] of My people [nation, community] from their pleasant [luxurious, delightful] homes [houses, dwellings]. You take away [remove, rob] My blessing [glory, divine favor] from their children [young ones, infants] forever [always, eternally]. word study 10 Arise [stand up, rise to power] and depart [go, walk away], for this [that, this specific place] is not [absent, lacking] your place of rest [resting place, peaceful home], because its defilement [uncleanness, moral corruption] brings [causes, leads to] destruction [total ruin]— a [most] grievous [painful, severe] destruction [corruption, devastation]! word study 11 If a man [walking in the spirit and falsehood] of wind [a false spirit of deceit] were to come and say falsely [lie, speaking a falsehood], “I will preach [prophesy, speak by inspiration] to you of wine [fermented wine, leading to intoxication] and strong drink [intensely alcoholic liquor],” he would be just the preacher [prophet, one who speaks for God] for this people [nation, a group of people with a shared identity]! word study 12 I will surely [without fail, certainly] gather [assemble, collect] all of you, O Jacob [Israel, the chosen people]; I will collect [bring together, assemble] the remnant [remaining ones, survivors] of Israel. I will bring them together [unite, assemble] like sheep [flock, herd] in a pen [enclosure, fold], like a flock [herd, group] in the midst [center, middle] of its pasture [grazing land, meadow]— a noisy [loud, tumultuous] throng [crowd, multitude]. word study 13 One who breaks open [forces a way, bursts forth] the way will go up [ascend, rise] before them; they will break through [shatter, force their way] the gate, and go out [exit, come forth] by it. Their King [ruler, sovereign] will pass through [cross over, transition] before them, the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] as their leader [guide, director]. word study