Micah 3: Leaders Who Love Justice

Micah speaks to the leaders of Israel. They should know justice, but they hate good and love evil. Some prophets said peace only when they were paid. But Micah says he is full of power by Yahweh's Spirit to tell the people their sin. Because leaders judged for bribes, Jerusalem would become heaps of rubble.

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Read Micah 3

World English Bible · 12 verses

¹ I said, “Please listen, you heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: Isn’t it for you to know justice?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² You who hate the good, and love the evil; who tear off their skin, and their flesh from off their bones;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ who also eat the flesh of my people, and peel their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as meat within the cauldron.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Then they will cry to Yahweh, but he will not answer them. Yes, he will hide his face from them at that time, because they made their deeds evil.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Yahweh says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray—for those who feed their teeth, they proclaim, “Peace!” and whoever doesn’t provide for their mouths, they prepare war against him:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “Therefore night is over you, with no vision, and it is dark to you, that you may not divine; and the sun will go down on the prophets, and the day will be black over them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ The seers shall be disappointed, and the diviners confounded. Yes, they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Please listen to this, you heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice, and pervert all equity,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ who build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Her leaders judge for bribes, and her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money; yet they lean on Yahweh, and say, “Isn’t Yahweh among us? No disaster will come on us.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Therefore Zion for your sake will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the mountain of the temple like the high places of a forest.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Micah 3 · Preschool

God's Spirit Helps

Name Date

Color Micah and the scroll. God's Spirit made Micah brave.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.”

Micah 3:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Micah was brave because God's Spirit helped him. God helps us tell the truth too!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Micah 3 · Grade 4

A Prophet with Courage

Name Date

Read and Think

Micah speaks to the heads of Jacob and the rulers of the house of Israel. He asks them, isn't it for you to know justice? Leaders were supposed to protect the people. Instead they hated the good and loved the evil, and they treated God's people cruelly.

Yahweh then speaks about prophets who lead his people astray. When someone gave them food, they proclaimed peace. When someone did not, they prepared war against him. Because of this, night would come over them, with no vision. The seers would be ashamed, for there is no answer from God.

Micah stands apart. He says he is full of power by Yahweh's Spirit, and of judgment and might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience. The leaders judged for bribes, the priests taught for a price, and the prophets told fortunes for money. Yet they said nothing bad would happen because Yahweh was among them. Micah warned that Zion would be plowed like a field and Jerusalem would become heaps of rubble.

Show What You Know

What question did Micah ask the rulers?
How did the false prophets decide what to say?
What filled Micah with power?
What false hope did the leaders have?

Think About It

Micah told the truth even when it was not popular. When do you need courage to say what is right?
The leaders said God was with them while they did wrong. Why is it dangerous to claim God's name while ignoring his ways?

Memory Verse

“But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.”

Micah 3:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving power to speak truth. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can you speak up kindly when something is wrong?
What is one way you can show your faith by what you do?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Micah 3 · Grade 5

Justice for Sale

Name Date

Read and Think

Micah turns to the leaders: the heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel. He asks, isn't it for you to know justice? Leaders were meant to protect the weak, but these rulers hated the good and loved the evil. Micah uses shocking word-pictures to show how cruelly they treated the people, as if they were consuming them. Because they made their deeds evil, he says they will cry to Yahweh, but he will hide his face from them.

Next Yahweh addresses prophets who lead his people astray. Their message depended on payment: if fed, they proclaimed peace; if not, they declared war. So night would fall on them, with no vision, and the sun would go down on the prophets. The seers would be disappointed and cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.

Against this, Micah declares, but as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh's Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin. He lists the corruption: leaders judge for bribes, priests teach for a price, and prophets tell fortunes for money. Still they lean on Yahweh and say no disaster will come. Therefore Zion would be plowed like a field and the temple mountain would become like a forest. The book of Jeremiah later quotes this warning (Jeremiah 26:18).

Show What You Know

What was the leaders' basic failure, according to verse 1?
How did payment shape the false prophets' message?
What three things fill Micah, according to verse 8?
Why was the leaders' confidence in verse 11 false?

Crossword

Across

You heads of the house of ____.
I am full of power by Yahweh’s ____.
I am full of ____ by Yahweh’s Spirit.

Down

You ____ of the house of Jacob.
Isn’t it for you to know ____.

Think About It

The prophets changed their message for money. What pressures can tempt people today to bend the truth?
Micah's strength came from Yahweh's Spirit. How can you rely on God's help when you need to stand for what is right?

Memory Verse

“But as for me, I am full of power by Yahweh’s Spirit, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his disobedience, and to Israel his sin.”

Micah 3:8 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving power to speak truth. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why is it wrong to treat rich people better than poor people?
How can you use your strengths to serve others?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Micah chapters · All books

Micah 3: Leaders Who Love Justice

Read Micah 3

Worksheets

God's Spirit Helps

Prayer

Take It Home

Do What Is Right

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Micah Speaks Up

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Full of Power

Prayer

Take It Home

Micah Is Brave

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Full of Power

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Full of Power

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Prophet with Courage

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Justice for Sale

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options