Reproof of False Prophets
(Micah 2:6–11)

1  וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 2  בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֕ם (of man), הִנָּבֵ֛א (prophesy) אֶל־ (against) נְבִיאֵ֥י (the prophets) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) הַנִּבָּאִ֑ים (those prophesying), וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ (and say) לִנְבִיאֵ֣י (to the prophets) מִלִּבָּ֔ם (of their own heart), שִׁמְע֖וּ (hear) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH); 3  כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH); ה֖וֹי (Woe) עַל־ (upon) הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים (the prophets), הַנְּבָלִ֑ים (foolish) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who) הֹלְכִ֛ים (are walking) אַחַ֥ר (after) רוּחָ֖ם (their own spirit), וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י (and nothing)! רָאֽוּ׃ (Have seen). 4  כְּשֻׁעָלִ֖ים (Like jackals) בָּחֳרָב֑וֹת (among the ruins). נְבִיאֶ֥יךָ (Your prophets) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (O Israel), הָיֽוּ׃ (have become). 5  לֹ֤א (Not) עֲלִיתֶם֙ (have you⁺ gone up) בַּפְּרָצ֔וֹת (into the breaches), וַתִּגְדְּר֥וּ (and walled up) גָדֵ֖ר (the wall) עַל־ (around) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel) לַעֲמֹ֥ד (to stand) בַּמִּלְחָמָ֖ה (in the battle) בְּי֥וֹם (on the day) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

6  חָ֤זוּ (They have seen) שָׁוְא֙ (emptiness) וְקֶ֣סֶם (divination), כָּזָ֔ב (and lying) הָאֹֽמְרִים֙ (saying), נְאֻם־ (Thus says); יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH…) וַֽיהוָ֖ה (and YHWH) לֹ֣א (not) שְׁלָחָ֑ם (has sent them) וְיִֽחֲל֖וּ (and they hope) לְקַיֵּ֥ם (to establish) דָּבָֽר׃ (their word).

7  הֲל֤וֹא (Not) מַֽחֲזֵה־ (a vision) שָׁוְא֙ (of emptiness) חֲזִיתֶ֔ם (have you⁺ seen), וּמִקְסַ֥ם (and a divination) כָּזָ֖ב (lying) אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ have spoken)? וְאֹֽמְרִים֙ (And you say) נְאֻם־ (An utterance) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH…) וַאֲנִ֖י (and I) לֹ֥א (not) דִבַּֽרְתִּי׃ס (spoken).

8  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH); יַ֚עַן (Because) דַּבֶּרְכֶ֣ם (you⁺ have spoken) שָׁ֔וְא (emptiness), וַחֲזִיתֶ֖ם (and seen) כָּזָ֑ב (a lie), לָכֵן֙ (therefore), הִנְנִ֣י (behold, I) אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (am against you⁺) נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH). 9  וְהָיְתָ֣ה (And will be) יָדִ֗י (My hand) אֶֽל־ (against) הַנְּבִיאִ֞ים (the prophets) הַחֹזִ֣ים (who are seeing) שָׁוְא֮ (emptiness), וְהַקֹּסְמִ֣ים (and who divine) כָּזָב֒ (a lie); בְּס֧וֹד (in the assembly) עַמִּ֣י (of My people), לֹֽא־ (not) יִהְי֗וּ (they will belong) וּבִכְתָ֤ב (and in the register) בֵּֽית־ (of the house) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel), לֹ֣א (not) יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ (will they be written) וְאֶל־ (and into) אַדְמַ֥ת (the land) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel); לֹ֣א (not) יָבֹ֑אוּ (will they come) וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם (and you⁺ will know) כִּ֥י (that) אֲנִ֖י (I am) אֲדֹנָ֥י (the Lord) יְהוִֽה׃ (YHWH).

10  יַ֣עַן (Because), וּבְיַ֜עַן (and because) הִטְע֧וּ (they have led astray) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּ֛י (My people), לֵאמֹ֥ר (saying), שָׁל֖וֹם (Peace); וְאֵ֣ין (when not) שָׁל֑וֹם (there is peace); וְהוּא֙ (and one) בֹּ֣נֶה (is building) חַ֔יִץ (a wall), וְהִנָּ֛ם (and behold them), טָחִ֥ים (they plaster) אֹת֖וֹ (it) תָּפֵֽל׃ (with whitewash). 11  אֱמֹ֛ר (You will say) אֶל־ (to) טָחֵ֥י (those who plastering) תָפֵ֖ל (with whitewash) וְיִפֹּ֑ל (that it will fall). הָיָ֣ה׀ (There will be) גֶּ֣שֶׁם (rain); שׁוֹטֵ֗ף (an overflowing) וְאַתֵּ֜נָה (and you⁺), אַבְנֵ֤י (O stones) אֶלְגָּבִישׁ֙ (of hail) תִּפֹּ֔לְנָה (will fall); וְר֥וּחַ (and a wind) סְעָר֖וֹת (of tempests) תְּבַקֵּֽעַ׃ (will tear it down). 12  וְהִנֵּ֖ה (And behold), נָפַ֣ל (will fall down), הַקִּ֑יר (the wall) הֲלוֹא֙ (will not) יֵאָמֵ֣ר (it be said) אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (to you⁺) אַיֵּ֥ה (Where is) הַטִּ֖יחַ (the whitewash) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (with which) טַחְתֶּֽם׃ס (you⁺ plastered it).

13  לָכֵ֗ן (Therefore) כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֔ה (YHWH); וּבִקַּעְתִּ֥י (and I will cause to break forth) רֽוּחַ־ (a wind) סְעָר֖וֹת (of temptests) בַּֽחֲמָתִ֑י (in My fury); וְגֶ֤שֶׁם (and a rain) שֹׁטֵף֙ (overflowing) בְּאַפִּ֣י (in My anger), יִֽהְיֶ֔ה (there will be) וְאַבְנֵ֥י (and stones) אֶלְגָּבִ֖ישׁ (of hail) בְּחֵמָ֥ה (in My fury) לְכָלָֽה׃ (to consume). 14  וְהָ֨רַסְתִּ֜י (And I will break down) אֶת־ (-) הַקִּ֨יר (the wall) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) טַחְתֶּ֥ם (you⁺ have plastered) תָּפֵ֛ל (with whitewash) וְהִגַּעְתִּ֥יהוּ (and I will make it touch) אֶל־ (to) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the ground), וְנִגְלָ֣ה (and will be uncovered), יְסֹד֑וֹ (its foundation) וְנָֽפְלָה֙ (and it will fall), וּכְלִיתֶ֣ם (and you⁺ will be finished off) בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ (in the midst of it) וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם (and you⁺ will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

15  וְכִלֵּיתִ֤י (And will I accomplish) אֶת־ (-) חֲמָתִי֙ (My wrath) בַּקִּ֔יר (against the wall), וּבַטָּחִ֥ים (and against those plastering) אֹת֖וֹ (it) תָּפֵ֑ל (with whitewash) וְאֹמַ֤ר (and I will say) לָכֶם֙ (to you⁺) אֵ֣ין (Is no more) הַקִּ֔יר (the wall) וְאֵ֖ין (and are no more) הַטָּחִ֥ים (those plastering) אֹתֽוֹ׃ (it). 16  נְבִיאֵ֣י (The prophets) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel) הַֽנִבְּאִים֙ (are prophesying) אֶל־ (concerning) יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם (Jerusalem), וְהַחֹזִ֥ים (and seeing) לָ֖הּ (for her) חֲז֣וֹן (visions) שָׁלֹ֑ם (of peace) וְאֵ֣ין (and there is no) שָׁלֹ֔ם (peace), נְאֻ֖ם (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֥י (of the Lord) יְהֹוִֽה׃פ (YHWH).

Reproof of False Prophetesses

17  וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) בֶן־ (O son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), שִׂ֤ים (set) פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ (your face) אֶל־ (against) בְּנ֣וֹת (the daughters) עַמְּךָ֔ (of your people), הַמִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וֹת (those prophesying) מִֽלִּבְּהֶ֑ן (from their own heart); וְהִנָּבֵ֖א (and prophesy) עֲלֵיהֶֽן׃ (against them). 18  וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ (And say), כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH); הוֹי֩ (Woe) לִֽמְתַפְּר֨וֹת (to those sowing) כְּסָת֜וֹת (charms) עַ֣ל׀ (on) כָּל־ (all) אַצִּילֵ֣י (the wrists) יָדַ֗י (of their hands), וְעֹשׂ֧וֹת (and making) הַמִּסְפָּח֛וֹת (veils) עַל־ (for) רֹ֥אשׁ (the heads) כָּל־ (of every) קוֹמָ֖ה (height) לְצוֹדֵ֣ד (to hunt) נְפָשׁ֑וֹת (for souls)! הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ (The souls) תְּצוֹדֵ֣דְנָה (will you⁺ hunt) לְעַמִּ֔י (of My people), וּנְפָשׁ֖וֹת (and the souls) לָכֶ֥נָה (of yourselves) תְחַיֶּֽינָה׃ (keep alive). 19  וַתְּחַלֶּלְ֨נָה (And you⁺ profane) אֹתִ֜י (Me) אֶל־ (among) עַמִּ֗י (My people) בְּשַׁעֲלֵ֣י (for handfuls) שְׂעֹרִים֮ (of barley) וּבִפְת֣וֹתֵי (and for pieces) לֶחֶם֒ (of bread), לְהָמִ֤ית (by putting to death) נְפָשׁוֹת֙ (people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) תְמוּתֶ֔נָה (should die), וּלְחַיּ֥וֹת (and keeping alive) נְפָשׁ֖וֹת (people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) לֹא־ (not) תִֽחְיֶ֑ינָה (should live), בְּכַ֨זֶּבְכֶ֔ם (by your⁺ lying) לְעַמִּ֖י (to My people) שֹׁמְעֵ֥י (who listen to) כָזָֽב׃ס (a lie)?

20  לָכֵ֞ן (Therefore) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH); הִנְנִ֤י (behold, I am) אֶל־ (against) כִּסְּתוֹתֵיכֶ֙נָה֙ (your⁺ charms), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (by which) אַ֠תֵּנָה (you⁺) מְצֹדְד֨וֹת (hunt) שָׁ֤ם (there) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּפָשׁוֹת֙ (souls) לְפֹ֣רְח֔וֹת (like birds), וְקָרַעְתִּ֣י (and I will tear) אֹתָ֔ם (them) מֵעַ֖ל (from) זְרוֹעֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם (your⁺ arms), וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי֙ (and I will send away) אֶת־ (-) הַנְּפָשׁ֔וֹת (the souls) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אַתֶּ֛ם (you⁺) מְצֹדְד֥וֹת (hunt) אֶת־ (-) נְפָשִׁ֖ים (the souls) לְפֹרְחֹֽת׃ (like birds). 21  וְקָרַעְתִּ֞י (And I will tear off), אֶת־ (-) מִסְפְּחֹֽתֵיכֶ֗ם (your⁺ veils) וְהִצַּלְתִּ֤י (and I will deliver) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּי֙ (My people) מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ן (from your⁺ hands), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִהְי֥וּ (they will be) ע֛וֹד (any longer) בְּיֶדְכֶ֖ן (in your⁺ hands) לִמְצוּדָ֑ה (as prey); וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ן (and you⁺ will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

22  יַ֣עַן (Because) הַכְא֤וֹת (you have disheartened), לֵב־ (the heart) צַדִּיק֙ (righteous) שֶׁ֔קֶר (with a lie) וַאֲנִ֖י (when I) לֹ֣א (not) הִכְאַבְתִּ֑יו (had grieved him); וּלְחַזֵּק֙ (and strengthened) יְדֵ֣י (the hands) רָשָׁ֔ע (of the wicked) לְבִלְתִּי־ (so as not) שׁ֛וּב (to turn aside) מִדַּרְכּ֥וֹ (from his way) הָרָ֖ע (evil), לְהַחֲיֹתֽוֹ׃ (to save his life); 23  לָכֵ֗ן (therefore) שָׁ֚וְא (emptiness), לֹ֣א (no) תֶחֱזֶ֔ינָה (will you⁺ see) וְקֶ֖סֶם (and divination), לֹא־ (not) תִקְסַ֣מְנָה (will you⁺ divine) ע֑וֹד (any longer) וְהִצַּלְתִּ֤י (and I will deliver) אֶת־ (-) עַמִּי֙ (My people) מִיֶּדְכֶ֔ן (from your⁺ hands). וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ן (And you⁺ will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I am) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).