New International Version Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. New Living Translation The rich among you have become wealthy through extortion and violence. Your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can no longer tell the truth. English Standard Version Your rich men are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Berean Standard Bible For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. Berean Literal Bible How her rich men are full of violence, and her dwellers have spoken deception, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth! King James Bible For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. New King James Version For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. New American Standard Bible “For the rich people of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. NASB 1995 “For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. NASB 1977 “For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Legacy Standard Bible For the rich men of the city are full of violence, And her inhabitants speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Amplified Bible “For the rich men of the city are full of violence [of every kind]; Her inhabitants speak lies And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Berean Annotated Bible For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. Christian Standard Bible For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful. Holman Christian Standard Bible For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; the tongues in their mouths are deceitful.” American Standard Version For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Contemporary English Version You rich people are violent, and everyone tells lies. English Revised Version For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. GOD'S WORD® Translation The rich people in the city are violent. Those who live in the city speak lies, and their tongues speak deceitfully. Good News Translation Your rich people exploit the poor, and all of you are liars. International Standard Version Her rich people are filled with violence, and her inhabitants tell lies— their tongues speak deceitfully! NET Bible The city's rich men think nothing of resorting to violence; her inhabitants lie, their tongues speak deceptive words. New Heart English Bible Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech. Webster's Bible Translation For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. World English Bible Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhose rich ones have been full of violence, "" And its inhabitants have spoken falsehood, "" And their tongue [is] deceitful in their mouth. Berean Literal Bible How her rich men are full of violence, and her dwellers have spoken deception, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth! Young's Literal Translation Whose rich ones have been full of violence, And its inhabitants have spoken falsehood, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Smith's Literal Translation For her rich ones were full of violence, and her inhabitants spake falsehood, and their tongue of deceit in their mouth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBy which her rich men were filled with iniquity, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue was deceitful in their mouth. Catholic Public Domain Version By this, her wealthy have been filled with iniquity, and her inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue was deceitful in their mouth. New American Bible You whose wealthy are full of violence, whose inhabitants speak falsehood with deceitful tongues in their mouths! New Revised Standard Version Your wealthy are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, with tongues of deceit in their mouths. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor the rich men of the land are full of deceit, and its inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is treacherous in their mouth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For its rich men are filled with fraud and its inhabitants speak falsehood and their tongue is deceitful in their mouths OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For the rich men thereof are full of violence, And the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. Brenton Septuagint Translation whereby they have accumulated their ungodly wealth, and they that dwell in the city have uttered falsehoods, and their tongue has been exalted in their mouth? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Punishment of Israel…11Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights? 12For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. 13Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.… Cross References For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, Ezekiel 7:23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence. Amos 3:10 “For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.” Isaiah 59:6 Their cobwebs cannot be made into clothing, and they cannot cover themselves with their works. Their deeds are sinful deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands. and its residents speak lies; Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth. Jeremiah 9:3-5 “They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity. Hosea 4:1-2 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a case against the people of the land: “There is no truth, no loving devotion, and no knowledge of God in the land! / Cursing and lying, murder and stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another. their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies, nor will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. But they will feed and lie down, with no one to make them tremble.” Psalm 120:2-3 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. / What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? Psalm 52:2-4 Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah / You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. Amos 8:4-6 Hear this, you who trample the needy, who do away with the poor of the land, / asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. / Let us buy the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the chaff with the wheat!” Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them. Jeremiah 5:26-28 For among My people are wicked men; they watch like fowlers lying in wait; they set a trap to catch men. / Like cages full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become powerful and rich. / They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy. Hosea 12:7 A merchant loves to defraud with dishonest scales in his hands. Proverbs 11:1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight. Ezekiel 22:12-13 In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD. / Now look, I strike My hands together against your unjust gain and against the blood you have shed in your midst. Zephaniah 3:3-4 Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning. / Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law. Treasury of Scripture For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. the rich. Micah 2:1,2 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand… Micah 3:1-3,9-11 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? … Micah 7:2-6 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net… spoken. Isaiah 59:3-15 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness… Jeremiah 9:2-6,8 Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men… Hosea 7:1,13 When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without… Jump to Previous City Cruel Deceitful Deceitfully False. Falsehood Full Inhabitants Lies Mouth Ones Residents Rich Speak Speech Thereof Tongue Tongues True. Violence Violent WealthJump to Next City Cruel Deceitful Deceitfully False. Falsehood Full Inhabitants Lies Mouth Ones Residents Rich Speak Speech Thereof Tongue Tongues True. Violence Violent WealthMicah 6 1. God's punishment for ingratitude;6. for ignorance, 10. for injustice; 16. and for idolatry. For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, Jerusalem’s influential citizens used their position and resources to exploit others. Rather than administering justice and protecting the vulnerable, many enriched themselves through oppression, fraud, and abuses of power. Their violence included both open wrongdoing and the unjust practices that deprived the poor of their rights. Ezk 7:23 Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes… and its residents speak lies; Deceit had become common throughout the city. False testimony, dishonest business dealings, and broken promises undermined justice and revealed a people no longer governed by faithfulness to God’s covenant. Psa 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray… their tongues are deceitful in their mouths. Their speech reflected the corruption of their hearts. Words intended to conceal wrongdoing or gain advantage had replaced truth, confirming the depth of Judah’s moral rebellion. Zep 3:13 The remnant of Israel will no longer do wrong or speak lies,… Persons / Places / Events 1. MicahA prophet in the 8th century BC, Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. He prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and his messages were directed towards both Israel and Judah. 2. The Rich Men of the City These individuals represent the affluent and powerful in society who are exploiting their positions for personal gain, often at the expense of justice and righteousness. 3. The City While not specified in this verse, Micah's prophecies often target Jerusalem and Samaria, the capitals of Judah and Israel, respectively, as centers of corruption and idolatry. 4. Residents The general populace of the city, who are complicit in the societal sins of deceit and violence, either through active participation or passive acceptance. 5. Violence and Deceit These are the specific sins highlighted in this verse, indicating a breakdown of social justice and integrity within the community. Teaching Points The Dangers of Wealth and PowerWealth and power can lead to corruption if not stewarded with integrity and accountability. Believers are called to use their resources to promote justice and righteousness. The Importance of Truthfulness God values truth, and deceit is an abomination to Him. Christians are called to be people of truth, reflecting God's character in their speech and actions. Social Responsibility The sins of the city are not just the responsibility of the leaders but of all its residents. Believers are called to stand against injustice and deceit in their communities. Repentance and Restoration Micah's message is ultimately one of repentance. God desires His people to turn from their wicked ways and seek His forgiveness and restoration. The Role of Prophets Prophets like Micah serve as God's mouthpiece, calling out sin and urging people to return to God. Believers today can learn from their boldness and commitment to truth. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Micah 6:12?2. How does Micah 6:12 challenge us to address dishonesty in our lives? 3. What does "rich men are full of violence" reveal about societal corruption? 4. How can we ensure our "tongues speak deceitfully" is not true of us? 5. Compare Micah 6:12 with Proverbs 6:16-19 on God's view of deceit. 6. What practical steps can we take to promote justice in our communities? 7. How does Micah 6:12 reflect the societal injustices of ancient Israel? 8. What historical context influenced the message of Micah 6:12? 9. How does Micah 6:12 challenge modern views on wealth and integrity? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Micah 6? (12) The rich men thereof--i.e., of the city. The sins of spoliation and fraud were practised by men who had not even the pitiable excuse of poverty and distress.Verse 12. - The rich men thereof; i.e. of the city mentioned in ver. 9. They have just been charged with injustice and fraud, now they are denounced for practising every kind of violence. And not only the rich, but all the inhabitants fall under censure for lying and deceit. Their tongue is deceitful; literally, deceit; they cannot open their mouth without speaking dangerous and destructive lies. Micah 6:12 exposes a society whose wealth fuels violence, whose common speech traffics in lies, and whose very tongues are bent on deceit. From top to bottom, Israel has violated God’s standards of justice and truth, inviting His righteous judgment. The verse calls every generation to examine power, speech, and heart, turning to the Lord who delights in steadfast love, justice, and humble fellowship (Micah 6:8). Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forאֲשֶׁ֤ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the wealthy of the city עֲשִׁירֶ֙יהָ֙ (‘ă·šî·re·hā) Adjective - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 6223: Rich are full of מָלְא֣וּ (mā·lə·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of violence, חָמָ֔ס (ḥā·mās) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain and its residents וְיֹשְׁבֶ֖יהָ (wə·yō·šə·ḇe·hā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry speak דִּבְּרוּ־ (dib·bə·rū-) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue lies; שָׁ֑קֶר (šā·qer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood their tongues וּלְשׁוֹנָ֖ם (ū·lə·šō·w·nām) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 3956: The tongue are deceitful רְמִיָּ֥ה (rə·mî·yāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 7423: Remissness, treachery in their mouths. בְּפִיהֶֽם׃ (bə·p̄î·hem) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to Additonal Resources Micah 6:12 Blue Letter BibleMicah 6:12 Bible Gateway Micah 6:12 Bible.com Micah 6:12 NIV |
    |