The kingof Israelsaidto Jehoshaphat,"There is yetonemanby whom we may inquireof the LORD,but I hatehim, becausehe does not prophesygoodconcerningme, but evil.[He is] Micaiahsonof Imlah."But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Let not the kingsayso."
Then his brotherssaidto him, "Are you actuallygoing to reignoverus? Orare you reallygoing to ruleover us?" So they hatedhim evenmorefor his dreamsand for his words.
for when Jezebeldestroyedthe prophetsof the LORD,Obadiahtooka hundredprophetsand hidthem by fiftiesin a cave,and providedthem with breadand water.)
He said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
Then he said,"I have beenveryzealousfor the LORD,the Godof hosts;for the sonsof Israelhave forsakenYour covenant,torndownYour altarsand killedYour prophetswith the sword.And I aloneam left;and they seekmy life,to takeit away."
Ahabsaidto Elijah,"Have you foundme, O my enemy?"And he answered,"I have found[you], becauseyou have soldyourself to doevilin the sightof the LORD.
Then the messengerwhowentto summonMicaiahspoketo him saying,"Beholdnow,the wordsof the prophetsare uniformlyfavorableto the king.Pleaselet your wordbe like the wordof oneof them, and speakfavorably."
Then the kingof Israelsaidto Jehoshaphat,"Did I not tellyou that he would not prophesygoodconcerningme, but evil?"
and say,'Thussaysthe king,"Putthisman in prisonand feedhim sparinglywith breadand wateruntilI returnsafely."'"
But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Is therenot yeta prophetof the LORDherethat we may inquireof him?"
Then the kingof Israelcalledan officerand said,"BringquicklyMicaiahsonof Imlah."
When JoramsawJehu,he said,"Is it peace,Jehu?"And he answered,"Whatpeace,solongas the harlotriesof your motherJezebeland her witchcraftsare so many?"
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
Evilshall slaythe wicked,And those who hatethe righteouswill be condemned.
A scofferdoes not loveone who reproveshim, He will not goto the wise.
Menof bloodshedhatethe blameless,But the uprightare concernedfor his life.
Do not reprovea scoffer,orhe will hateyou, Reprovea wisemanand he will loveyou.
Woeto the wicked![It will go] badly[with him], For whathe deserveswill be doneto him.
Whosayto the seers,"You must not see[visions"]; And to the prophets,"You must not prophesyto us whatis right,Speakto us pleasantwords,Prophesyillusions.
Thussaysthe LORD,the Redeemerof Israel[and] its HolyOne,To the despisedOne, To the One abhorredby the nation,To the Servantof rulers,"Kingswill seeand arise,Princeswill also bowdown,Becauseof the LORDwhois faithful,the HolyOneof Israelwho has chosenYou."
Then they said,"Comeand let us deviseplansagainstJeremiah.Surelythe lawis not going to be lostto the priest,norcounselto the sage,northe [divine] wordto the prophet!Comeon and let us strikeat him with [our] tongue,and let us givenoheedto anyof his words."
For I have heardthe whisperingof many,"Terroron everyside!Denounce[him]; yes, let us denouncehim!" Allmy trustedfriends,Watchingfor my fall,say: "Perhapshe will be deceived,so that we may prevailagainst him And takeour revengeon him."
When Jehudihad readthreeor fourcolumns,[the king] cutit with a scribe'sknifeand threw[it] into the firethat was in the brazier,untilallthe scrollwas consumedin the firethat was in the brazier.
Then the officialssaidto the king,"Nowlet thismanbe putto death,inasmuchas he is discouragingthe menof warwho are leftin thiscityand allthe people,by speakingsuchwordsto them; for thismanis not seekingthe well-beingof thispeoplebut rathertheir harm."
They hatehim who reprovesin the gate,And they abhorhim who speaks[with] integrity.
"Ifa manwalkingafter windand falsehoodHad toldlies[and said], 'I will speakout to you concerning wineand liquor,'He would be spokesmanto thispeople.
"Is it being said,O houseof Jacob:'Is the Spiritof the LORDimpatient?Are theseHis doings?'Do not My wordsdogoodTo the one walkinguprightly?
Then I annihilatedthe threeshepherdsin onemonth,for my soulwas impatientwith them, and their soulalsowas wearyof me.
"You will be hatedby allbecauseof My name,but it is the one who has enduredto the endwho will be saved.
"I have giventhem Your word;and the worldhas hatedthem, becausethey are not of the world,evenas I amnot of the world.
"The worldcannothateyou, but it hatesMe becauseI testifyof it, that its deedsare evil.
Sohave I becomeyour enemyby telling you the truth?
