1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Listen, peoples, every one of you; give heed, O earth, and everything in it! Let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 See, the LORD is leaving his dwelling place; he comes down and walks upon the heights of the earth.
4 Beneath him the mountains dissolve and the valleys burst apart, like wax in front of a fire, like water rushing down a slope.
5 It is because of Jacob's transgression that all this comes, because of the sins of the house of Israel. Who is Jacob's transgression? Is it not Samaria? And who are Judah's high places? Is it not Jerusalem?
6 I will turn Samaria into a rubble heap in the field, ground for planting vines; I will tip her stones down into the valley and expose her foundations.
7 Every one of her images will be smashed, all her earnings burned up in the fire, and all her idols I will make a ruin; for she amassed them from a harlot's pay, and a harlot's pay they will become again.
8 Because of this I will mourn and howl; barefoot and naked I will go about; I will wail like the jackals and grieve like the ostriches.
9 For her blows cannot be healed; the blow has come as far as Judah; it has reached the very gate of my people, Jerusalem.
10 Do not announce it in Gath; shed no tears at all. In Beth-leaphrah, roll in the dust.
11 Move on, you who live in Shaphir, naked and ashamed; those who live in Zaanan do not venture out. Beth-ezel is wailing; it will take from you its place to stand.
12 The one who lives in Maroth writhes, longing for good, for calamity has come down from the LORD, right to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Hitch the team to the chariot, you who live in Lachish; you were where sin began for the daughter of Zion, since Israel's transgressions were found in you.
14 So you will have to give farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib will prove a deceit to Israel's kings.
15 Once more I will bring one who will take possession of you, you who live in Mareshah; Israel's glory will go as far as Adullam.
16 Shave your head and cut off your hair for the children you delight in; widen your baldness like the eagle's, for they have gone from you into exile.