Lectionary Calendar
Friday, May 3rd, 2024
the Fifth Week after Easter
Attention!

Read the Bible

New Revised Standard

Micah 2

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Social Evils Denounced

1 Alas for those who devise wickedness
    and evil deeds[a] on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
    because it is in their power.
2 They covet fields, and seize them;
    houses, and take them away;
they oppress householder and house,
    people and their inheritance.
3 Therefore thus says the Lord:
Now, I am devising against this family an evil
    from which you cannot remove your necks;
and you shall not walk haughtily,
    for it will be an evil time.
4 On that day they shall take up a taunt song against you,
    and wail with bitter lamentation,
and say, "We are utterly ruined;
    the Lord[b] alters the inheritance of my people;
how he removes it from me!
    Among our captors[c] he parcels out our fields."
5 Therefore you will have no one to cast the line by lot
    in the assembly of the Lord.

6 "Do not preach"—thus they preach—
    "one should not preach of such things;
    disgrace will not overtake us."
7 Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
    Is the Lord's patience exhausted?
    Are these his doings?
Do not my words do good
    to one who walks uprightly?
8 But you rise up against my people[d] as an enemy;
    you strip the robe from the peaceful,[e]
from those who pass by trustingly
    with no thought of war.
9 The women of my people you drive out
    from their pleasant houses;
from their young children you take away
    my glory forever.
10 Arise and go;
    for this is no place to rest,
because of uncleanness that destroys
    with a grievous destruction.[f]
11 If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods,
    saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,"
    such a one would be the preacher for this people!

A Promise for the Remnant of Israel

12 I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob,
    I will gather the survivors of Israel;
I will set them together
    like sheep in a fold,
like a flock in its pasture;
    it will resound with people.
13 The one who breaks out will go up before them;
    they will break through and pass the gate,
    going out by it.
Their king will pass on before them,
    the Lord at their head.

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