Oppression and the Promised Remnant
Micah 2
The prophet condemns those who plot evil in the night and seize the fields and houses of others, declaring that the Lord will bring calamity on them in turn. Amid warnings against false comfort, the Lord promises to gather the scattered remnant of Jacob and lead them out as a flock, with their king going before them.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
Thomson—
BrentonThey meditated troubles, and wrought wickedness on their beds, and they put it in execution with the daylight; for they have not lifted up their hands to God.
GreekἘγένοντο λογιζόμενοι κόπους, καὶ ἐργαζόμενοι κακὰ ἐν ταῖς κοίταις αὐτῶν, καὶ ἅμα τῇ ἡμέρᾳ συνετέλουν αὐτὰ, διότι οὐκ ᾖραν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν χεῖρας αὐτῶν.
KJV—
JPS—
2
ThomsonThey coveted fields and plundered orphans and tyrannised over houses; they plundered a man and his household—a man and his inheritance;
BrentonAnd they desired fields, and plundered orphans, and oppressed families, and spoiled a man and his house, even a man and his inheritance.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπεθύμουν ἀγρούς, καὶ διήρπαζον ὀρφανούς, καὶ οἴκους κατεδυνάστευον, καὶ διήρπαζον ἄνδρα καὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἄνδρα καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
JPSAnd they covet fields, and seize them; And houses, and take them away; Thus they oppress a man and his house, Even a man and his heritage.
3
Thomsontherefore thus saith the Lord: Behold against this tribe I am planning evils, from which you shall not withdraw your necks, nor walk erect suddenly. Because it is an evil time,
BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I devise evils against this family, out of which ye shall not lift up your necks, neither shall ye walk upright speedily: for the time is evil.
GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ λογίζομαι ἐπὶ τὴν φυλὴν ταύτην κακὰ, ἐξ ὧν οὐ μὴ ἄρητε τοὺς τραχήλους ὑμῶν, καὶ οὐ μὴ πορευθῆτε ὀρθοὶ ἐξαίφνης, ὅτι καιρὸς πονηρός ἐστιν.
KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD: Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, From which ye shall not remove your necks, Neither shall ye walk upright; for it shall be an evil time.
4
Thomsona parable will in that day be taken up against you, and a song of lamentation will be sung, saying, With affliction we have been afflicted! the portion of my people have been measured with a line, and there was none to hinder or turn it aside. Your fields have been parcelled out,
BrentonIn that day shall a parable be taken up against you, and a plaintive lamentation shall be uttered, saying, We are thoroughly miserable: the portion of my people has been measured out with a line, and there was none to hinder him so as to turn him back; your fields have been divided.
GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ληφθήσεται ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς παραβολὴ, καὶ θρηνηθήσεται θρῆνος ἐν μέλει, λέγων, ταλαιπωρίᾳ ἐταλαιπωρήσαμεν· μερὶς λὰοῦ μου κατεμετρήθη ἐν σχοινίῳ, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὁ κωλύων αὐτὸν τοῦ ἀποστρέψαι· οἱ ἀγροὶ ὑμῶν διεμερίσθησαν.
KJVIn that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.
JPSIn that day shall they take up a parable against you, And lament with a doleful lamentation, and say: ‘We are utterly ruined; He changeth the portion of my people; How doth he remove it from me! Instead of restoring our fields, he divideth them.’
5
Thomsontherefore there shall be none to stretch a line for thee by lot in the congregation of the Lord.
BrentonTherefore thou shalt have no one to cast a line for the lot.
GreekΔιατοῦτο οὐκ ἔσται σοι βάλλων σχοινίον ἐν κλήρῳ· ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ Κυρίου
KJVTherefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
JPSTherefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the line by lot In the congregation of the LORD.
6
ThomsonWeep not bitterly, nor let tears be shed for these things, for reproaches will not be cast off even by him who saith,
BrentonWeep not with tears in the assembly of the Lord, neither let any weep for these things; for he shall not remove the reproaches,
Greekμὴ κλαίετε δάκρυσι, μηδὲ δακρυέτωσαν ἐπὶ τούτοις· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀπώσεται ὀνείδη,
KJV—
JPS’Preach ye not’, they preach; ‘They shall not preach of these things, That they shall not take shame.’
7
ThomsonThe house of Jacob hath provoked to wrath the Spirit of the Lord. Are not these his ways? Are not His words good with him [the house of Jacob]? Have these walked in a straight course?
Brentonwho says, The house of Jacob has provoked the Spirit of the Lord; are not these his practices? Are not the Lord's words right with him? and have they not proceeded correctly?
Greekὁ λέγων, οἶκος Ἰακὼβ παρώργισε πνεῦμα Κυρίου. οὐ ταῦτα τὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτοῦ ἐστιν; οὐχ οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ εἰσι καλοὶ μετʼ αὐτοῦ; καὶ ὀρθοὶ πεπόρευνται;
KJVO thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
JPSDo I change, O house of Jacob? Is the spirit of the LORD straitened? Are these His doings? Do not My words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
8
ThomsonIndeed this people of mine have openly risen up for enmity. In direct opposition to his peace they have even stripped off his skin, that the extreme horror of war might destroy hope.
BrentonEven beforetime my people withstood him as an enemy against his peace; they have stripped off his skin to remove hope in the conflict of war.
GreekΚαὶ ἔμπροσθεν ὁ λαός μου εἰς ἔχθραν ἀντέστη, κατέναντι τῆς εἰρήνης αὐτοῦ· τὴν δορὰν αὐτοῦ ἐξέδειραν, τοῦ ἀφελέσθαι ἐλπίδας συντριμμὸν πολέμου.
KJVEven of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
JPS—
9
ThomsonThe leaders of my people shall be hurled from their houses of pleasure; for their wicked devices they have been expelled; draw ye near to the everlasting mountains.
BrentonThe leaders of my people shall be cast forth from their luxurious houses; they are rejected because of their evil practices; draw ye near to the everlasting mountains.
GreekἩγούμενοι λαοῦ μου ἀποῤῥιφήσονται ἐκ τῶν οἰκιῶν τρυφῆς αὐτῶν, διὰ τὰ πονηρὰ ἐπιτηδεύματα αὐτῶν ἐξώσθησαν· ἐγγίσατε ὄρεσιν αἰωνίοις.
KJVThe women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
JPSThe women of My people ye cast out from their pleasant houses; From their young children ye take away My glory for ever.
10
ThomsonArise and depart, for this is not a rest for thee. By reason of impurity you are utterly corrupted:
BrentonArise thou, and depart; for this is not thy rest because of uncleanness: ye have been utterly destroyed;
GreekἈνάστηθι καὶ πορεύου, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι σοι αὕτη ἀνάπαυσις ἕνεκεν ἀκαθαρσίας· διεφθάρητε φθορᾷ,
KJVArise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
JPSArise ye, and depart; for this is not your resting-place; Because of the uncleanness thereof, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
11
Thomson—
Brentonye have fled, no one pursuing you: thy spirit has framed falsehood, it has dropped on thee for wine and strong drink. But it shall come to pass, that out of the dropping of this people,
Greekκατεδιώχθητε οὐδενὸς διώκοντος· πνεῦμα ἔστησε ψεῦδος, ἐστάλαξέ σοι εἰς οἶνον καὶ μέθυσμα· καὶ ἔσται, ἐκ τῆς σταγόνος τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου
KJVIf a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
JPSIf a man walking in wind and falsehood do lie: ‘I will preach unto thee of wine and of strong drink’; He shall even be the preacher of this people.
12
ThomsonYet it shall come to pass that from a drop of this people, Jacob with all his sons shall be gathered together. With expectation I will expect the remnant of Israel. I will place together them who are about to return. Like sheep in distress, like a flock in their fold, they shall rush out from among men through a breach before them.
BrentonJacob shall be completely gathered with all his people: I will surely receive the remnant of Israel; I will cause them to return together, as sheep in trouble, as a flock in the midst of their fold: they shall rush forth from among men through the breach made before them:
Greekσυναγόμενος συναχθήσεται Ἰακὼβ σὺν πᾶσιν· ἐκδεχόμενος ἐκδέξομαι τοὺς καταλοίπους τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, ἐπιτοαυτὸ θήσομαι τὴν ἀποστροφὴν αὐτοῦ· ὡς πρόβατα ἐν θλίψει, ὡς ποίμνιον ἐν μέσῳ κοίτης αὐτῶν· ἐξαλοῦνται ἐξ ἀνθρώπων
KJVI will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
JPSI will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will render them all as sheep in a fold; As a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.
13
ThomsonThey have broken through and passed the gate; they are gone through it and their king is gone out before them; and the Lord will be their leader.
Brentonthey have broken through, and passed the gate, and gone out by it: and their king has gone out before them, and the Lord shall lead them.
Greekδιὰ τῆς διακοπῆς πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν· διέκοψαν, καὶ διῆλθον πύλην, καὶ ἐξῆλθον διʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς αὐτῶν πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ὁ δὲ Κύριος ἡγήσεται αὐτῶν.
KJVThe breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
JPSThe breaker is gone up before them; They have broken forth and passed on, By the gate, and are gone out thereat; And their king is passed on before them, And the LORD at the head of them.