1The vision of the LORD that came to Micah, the Morasthite (from the village of Moresheth-gath), in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, (3 successive kings) of Judah, which he (Micah) saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2“Hear, all you people; listen, O earth, and all who are in it; and let the Sovereign LORD bear witness against you - the LORD from His holy Temple. 3Behold, the LORD is coming from His dwelling place, and will come down, and tread upon the heights of the earth. 4And the mountains shall melt beneath Him, and the valleys shall split apart, like wax before the heat of a fire, and like water that is poured down a steep slope. 5All this is because of the transgression of Jacob, and for the sins of the people of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what are the high places (for practicing idolatry) of Judah? Are they not in Jerusalem?” 6“Therefore (the LORD said), I will make Samaria like a heap of rubble - a place for planting vineyards; and I will pour her stones into the valley, and I will lay bare her foundations. 7And all her idols and carved images shall be smashed to pieces, and all her temple gifts shall be burned with the fire, along with her idols that I will lay desolate; for they are the wages of a harlot, and they shall now be carried away to hire harlots elsewhere.”

8Therefore, I (Micah) will lament and wail, I will go about barefoot and naked; I will howl like a jackal, and mourn like an owl or dove. 9For Samaria’s plague is incurable; and it has spread into Judah, and to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

10Do not declare it at Gath, do not weep at all; in Beth Ophrah (the house of Aphrah), roll yourself in the dust. 11Pass on your way, in nakedness and shame, you inhabitants of Shaphir; those who inhabit Zaanan will not came out; Beth-ezel is in mourning; it will no longer protect you. 12For the inhabitants of Maroth looked for good; but disaster came down from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. 13O you who live in Lachish, harness a fast horse to the chariot; you are where the daughter of Zion began to sin; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. 14Therefore shall you give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath; the town of Achzib (Akzib) shall prove deceptive to the kings of Israel. 15Yet God will bring a conqueror to capture your town, O inhabitant of Mareshah; and the leaders of Israel shall go to Adullam. 16Shave yourselves bald, and cut off your hair, for the children you love will go from you into captivity.