1:1 This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to Samaria and Jerusalem.
1:2 Listen, all you nations!
Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth!
The sovereign Lord will testify against you;
the Lord will accuse you from his majestic palace.
1:3 Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place!
He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!
1:4 The mountains will disintegrate beneath him,
and the valleys will be split in two.
The mountains will melt like wax in a fire,
the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope.
1:5 All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion
and the sins of the nation of Israel.
How has Jacob rebelled, you ask?
Samaria epitomizes their rebellion!
Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask?
They are right in Jerusalem!
1:6 “I will turn Samaria into a heap of ruins in an open field –
vineyards will be planted there!
I will tumble the rubble of her stone walls down into the valley,
and tear down her fortifications to their foundations.
1:7 All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces;
all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire.
I will make a waste heap of all her images.
Since she gathered the metal as a prostitute collects her wages,
the idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.”
1:8 For this reason I will mourn and wail;
I will walk around barefoot and without my outer garments.
I will howl like a wild dog,
and screech like an owl.
1:9 For Samaria’s disease is incurable.
It has infected Judah;
it has spread to the leadership of my people
and has even contaminated Jerusalem!