Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, April 30th, 2024
the Fifth Week after Easter
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Micah 2

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Punishment for Those Who Abuse Their Power

1 Doomed! You're doomed!

At night you lie in bed,
    making evil plans.
And when morning comes,
you do what you've planned
    because you have the power.
2 You grab any field or house
    that you want;
you cheat families
    out of homes and land.

3 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."

4 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."[a]
5 And so you will never again
own property
    among the Lord's people.

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

7 Descendants of Jacob,
    is it right for you to claim
that the Lord did what he did
    because he was angry?
Doesn't he always bless
    those who do right?
8 My people, you have even stolen
    clothes right off the backs
of your unsuspecting soldiers
    returning home from battle.
9 You take over lovely homes
that belong to the women
    of my nation.
Then you cheat their children
out of the inheritance
    that comes from the Lord.[b]

10 Get out of here, you crooks!
    You'll find no rest here.
You're not fit to belong
to the Lord's people,
    and you will be destroyed.[c]
11 The only prophet you want
is a liar who will say,
    "Drink and get drunk!"

A Promise of Hope

12 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.
13 I will break down the gate
and lead them out—
    then I will be their king.

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