Mic 2 | EE | STEP | Micah continues: People who prepare to do bad things should be afraid. God will do bad things to them! While they lie in bed, they think about bad things to do. Then, when the morning comes, they do those bad things. They have the authority to do whatever they want to do.

‏ Micah 2

God says that bad things will happen to the bad people

1 Micah continues:

People who prepare to do bad things should be afraid.
God will do bad things to them!
While they lie in bed, they think about bad things to do.
Then, when the morning comes, they do those bad things.
They have the authority to do whatever they want to do.
2 When they want fields, they take them from other people.
When they want houses, they take them.
These cruel people take other people’s homes and fields;
then those people’s families have nothing.

3 So the LORD says this to them:

‘I am against you.
You cannot save yourselves.
I will prepare trouble for you.
Then you will stop thinking that you are so very clever and important.
It will be a time of much trouble for you.
4 At that time, people will say that you are fools.
They will sing this sad song on your behalf:
God has completely destroyed us!
We no longer have any fields, because God has taken them away from us.
He has given them to our enemies, who have turned away from what is right.
5 So, when the LORD‘s people measure the land again to give fields to everyone,
you will get none.
You will have nobody to speak on your behalf.’ ^{▼▼2:5 Verse 5 At certain times, the people measured their fields again. They used stones with marks on them to decide about the fields. Micah says that God is against the bad people. So, God will never let them get any fields again in future times.}
6 The bad people say to Micah: ‘Do not prophesy like this to us!
Do not say that we will have trouble.
God will not make us ashamed!’ ^{▼▼2:6 Verse 6 To prophesy means to speak (God’s) messages, often about future events.}
7 Micah replies: It is wrong for you to say that the LORD‘s Spirit is not angry with Jacob‘s people.
God does not do bad things.
My (God’s) words do good things.
He is kind to people who do the right things.
8 ‘Even in days that have only just passed,
you have become enemies among my people’, God says.
‘You rob people of their coats when they pass by.
Even men who thought that they were safe now.
You even rob men who are returning home from war.
9 You rob the women among my people too.
You take away their happy homes.
So, you take away what I want their children to enjoy.
10 Get up and go away!
You cannot remain in this place because you have made it bad.
It is so bad that it will completely destroy you.
11 When a person speaks false messages to you, then you believe them.
They might say that you would have plenty of wine and strong drink.
That is the message that you would like!’ ^{▼▼2:11 Verse 11 Micah spoke true messages from God. But other people were speaking false messages. They spoke words that made the bad people happy. In this verse, God is saying that the bad people should listen to Micah.}

God promises to bring his people back together

12 ‘You people of Israel, I promise to bring all of you together.
I will bring back together all Israel’s people who remain.
I will put all of you together like sheep in a field with a wall round it.
You will be like a field full of sheep.
There will be a loud noise because there will be so many of you.
13 The person who breaks open the way will go in front of you.
Then you will go out through the gate.
I am the LORD, your king, and I will lead you out.’ ^{▼▼2:13 In verses 1-11, God says that he will kill the bad people in Israel. He will bring enemies to fight them.} ^{▼▼2:13 In verses 12-13, God promises to bring the poor and good people to a safe place. This may mean Jerusalem. Then, when their enemies have gone away, he will lead them out of that place. They will return to their homes.}