Woeto those who draginiquitywith the cordsof falsehood,And sinas if with cartropes;
He saysto himself,"Godhas forgotten;He has hiddenHis face;He will neverseeit."
The foolhas saidin his heart,"Thereis noGod."They are corrupt,they have committedabominabledeeds;Thereis noonewho doesgood.
For it flattershim in his [own] eyesConcerning the discoveryof his iniquity[and] the hatred[of it].
For they eatthe breadof wickednessAnd drinkthe wineof violence.
Becauseyou have said,"We have madea covenantwith death,And with Sheolwe have madea pact.The overwhelmingscourgewill not reachus whenit passesby, For we have madefalsehoodour refugeand we have concealedourselves with deception."
For the landis fullof adulterers;For the landmournsbecauseof the curse.The pasturesof the wildernesshave driedup. Their coursealso is evilAnd their mightis not right.
"Also among the prophetsof JerusalemI have seena horriblething:The committingof adulteryand walkingin falsehood;And they strengthenthe handsof evildoers,So that noonehas turnedbackfrom his wickedness.Allof them have becometo Me like Sodom,And her inhabitantslike Gomorrah.
"Can a manhidehimself in hidingplacesSo I do not seehim?" declaresthe LORD."Do I not fillthe heavensand the earth?"declaresthe LORD.
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.
The prophetsprophesyfalsely,And the priestsruleon their [own] authority;And My peopleloveit so!But whatwill you doat the endof it?
"Becauseyou disheartenedthe righteouswith falsehoodwhen I did not causehim grief,but have encouragedthe wickednot to turnfrom his wickedway[and] preservehis life,
"It will comeabout at that timeThat I will searchJerusalemwith lamps,And I will punishthe menWho are stagnantin spirit,Who sayin their hearts,'The LORDwill not dogoodor evil!'
"They will makeyou outcasts from the synagogue,but an houris comingfor everyonewho killsyou to thinkthat he is offeringserviceto God.
"So then,I thoughtto myselfthat I hadto domany thingshostileto the nameof Jesusof Nazareth.
Then Micahsaid,"NowI knowthat the LORDwill prosperme, seeingI havea Leviteas priest."
And the manMicahhad a shrineand he madean ephodand householdidolsand consecratedoneof his sons,that he might becomehis priest.
