1Here is the message that the Lord gave to Micah of Moresheth at the time when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. This is what he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2Listen, all the nations! Pay attention, everyone on earth! The Lord God testifies against you from the Lord's holy Temple.

3Look! The Lord is coming, leaving his place and coming down, and is walking on the high places of the earth.

4The mountains melt beneath him, the valleys burst apart, like wax in front of a fire, like water rushing down a slope. All this is happening because of the rebellion of the descendants of Jacob, the sins of the people of Israel.

5What is the rebellion of the descendants of Jacob? Isn't it what is happening in Samaria? Where are the idolatrous high places ⁰of Judah? Aren't they right in Jerusalem? ¹

6Therefore I will make Samaria a pile of rubble in a field, a place for planting vineyards. I will roll its stones down into the valley; I will lay bare its foundations.

7All their carved idols will be smashed to pieces. All that was earned by their temple prostitutes will be burned. All of their idols will be destroyed, for what she collected through the earnings of temple prostitutes will be taken away and used to pay other temple prostitutes.

8Because of this I will weep and wail, I will walk barefoot and naked, and will howl like jackals and mourn like owls.

9Their ²wound cannot be healed, it has extended to Judah, and reached right to the gates of Jerusalem.

10Don't mention it in Gath; don't weep at all. ³People of Beth-le-aphrah, roll in the dust. ⁴

11Leave, ⁵people of Shaphir, naked and ashamed. People of Zanaan don't come out. People of Beth Ezel mourn, for you have lost your support. ⁶

12The people of Maroth wait anxiously for relief, but disaster has come down from the Lord on the gate of Jerusalem.

13Harness the team of horses to the chariot, you people of Lachish, because the sins of the people of Jerusalem ⁷began with you, for the sins of Israel were first found in you.

14Send your goodbye gifts to Moresheth. ⁸The town of Achzib is a deception to the kings of Israel.

15I will bring a conqueror to attack you, people of Moresheth. The leaders of Israel will go to Adullam. ⁹

16Shave your heads, for the children you love will be taken away; make yourselves as bald as a vulture, for they will be exiled far away from you.