Reproof of False Prophets
(Micah 2:6–11)

1The worde of the Lord came vnto me, saying: 2Thou sonne of man, prophecie against chose prophetes of Israel whiche prophecie, and say vnto them that prophecie out of their owne heartes, Heare the worde of the Lorde, 3Thus saith the Lord God, wo be vnto those foolishe prophetes that folowe their owne spirit, & haue seene nothing. 4O Israel, thy prophetes are lyke the fores in desert places. 5For ye haue not stand vp in the gappes, nor made a hedge for the house of Israel, to stande in the battayle in the day of the Lorde. 6They haue seene vanitie and lying diuination, saying: the Lorde saith it, and the Lorde hath not sent them, and they haue made me hope that they woulde confirme the worde. 7Haue ye not seene vayne visions, and spoken false prophecies, when ye say, the Lorde hath spoken it, whereas I neuer sayde it.

8Therfore thus saith the Lorde God, Because ye haue spoken vanitie, and haue seene lies: therfore beholde I am against you, saith the Lorde God: 9Mine handes shal come vpon the prophetes that see vanities, and deuine lies: they shall not be in the counsell of my people, nor written in the booke of the house of Israel, neither shal they come in the lande of Israel, that ye may know howe that I am the Lord God: 10And that for because they haue deceaued my people, and told them of peace where no peace was: one setteth vp a wall, and they daube it with vntempered clay. 11Therfore tell them which daube with vntempred morter, that it shall fall: for there shal come a great showre of raine, I will sende haylestones to cause it to fall, and a great storme of winde shall breake it. 12And lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not then be sayd vnto you, Where is nowe your morter that ye daubed it withall? 13Therfore thus saith the Lorde God: I wyll cause a stormie winde to breake out in my wrathfull displeasure, so that in mine anger there shall come a mightie showre of raine, and haylestones in my wrath to destroy it. 14As for the wall that ye haue daubed with vntempered morter, I wil breake it downe, and make it euen with the grounde, so that the foundation therof shalbe discouered, and it shall fall: yea and ye your selues shall perishe in the middes therof, and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde. 15Thus wyll I perfourme my wrath vpon this wall, and vpon them that haue daubed it with vntempred morter, and then wyl I say vnto you, The wall is gone, and the daubers of it. 16To wit the prophetes of Israel, whiche prophecie vnto Hierusalem, and looke out visions of peace for it, wheras no peace is, saith the Lorde God.

Reproof of False Prophetesses

17Wherefore O thou sonne of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, whiche prophecie out of their owne heartes, and prophecie against them: 18And say, thus saith the Lorde God: Wo be vnto them that sowe pillowes vnder all arme holes, and put kirchifes vpon the heades of euery stature to hunt soules. Wyll ye hunt the soules of my people, and geue life to the soules that come vnto you? 19And wyll ye pollute me to my people for handfuls of barly, and for peeces of bread, to kyll the soules of them that dye not, and promise life to them that liue not, in lying to my people that heareth your lyes?

20Wherfore thus saith the Lorde God: Beholde, I wyll vpon your pillowes wherwith ye hunt the soules, to make them flee, and I will teare them from your armes, and wyll let the soules go, euen the soules that ye hunt to make them to flee. 21Your kirchifes also wyll I teare in peeces, and deliuer my people out of your handes, so that they shall come no more in your handes to be hunted: and ye shall knowe that I am the Lorde. 22Seeing that with your lyes you discomfort the heart of the righteous, who I haue not discomforted: Againe, forsomuche as ye encourage the hande of the wicked, so that he may not turne from his wicked way in promising hym life: 23Therfore shall ye see no more vanitie, neither shall ye deuine diuinations, for I wyll deliuer my people out of your hande, that ye may knowe howe that I am the Lorde.