Parallel Verses
King James 2000
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a bribe; and the great man, he utters his evil desire: so they weave it together.
New American Standard Bible
The prince asks, also the judge, for a
And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;
So they weave it together.
King James Version
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
Holman Bible
the official and the judge demand a bribe;
when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,
they plot it together.
International Standard Version
And speaking of evil, they practice it eagerly with both hands! Both leader and judge demand a bribe, the famous confess their perverted desires, and they scheme together.
A Conservative Version
Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler asks, and the judge [is ready] for a bribe. And the great man, he utters the evil desire of his soul. Thus they weave it together.
American Standard Version
Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge is ready for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.
Amplified
Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligently and thoroughly;
The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,
And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul.
So they twist the course of justice between them.
Bible in Basic English
Their hands are made ready to do evil; the ruler makes requests for money, and the judge is looking for a reward; and the great man gives decisions at his pleasure, and the right is twisted.
Darby Translation
Both hands are for evil, to do it well. The prince asketh, and the judge is there for a reward; and the great man uttereth his soul's greed: and together they combine it.
Julia Smith Translation
For doing evil with the hands to do well, the chief asking, and the judge, for peace; and the great one, he spake the mischief of his soul: and they will entangle it
Lexham Expanded Bible
Their hands [are] upon evil, to do [it] well; the official and the judge ask for the bribe, and the great [man] utters the evil desire of his soul; and they weave [it] together.
Modern King James verseion
Both hands are on evil, to do it well. The ruler asks for a bribe, and the judge also; and the great man speaks the evil desire of his soul. So they weave it together.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
yet they say they do well when they do evil. As the prince will, so sayeth the judge: that he may do him a pleasure again. The great man speaketh what his heart desireth; and the hearers allow him.
NET Bible
They are determined to be experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men make demands, and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them.
New Heart English Bible
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
The Emphasized Bible
Of wickedness with both hands to make sure, the ruler, doth make demand - and the judge - for a recompense, - and, as for the great man, he, is putting into words the desire of his soul, So have they woven the net!
Webster
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
World English Bible
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.
Youngs Literal Translation
On the evil are both hands to do it well, The prince is asking -- also the judge -- for recompence, And the great -- he is speaking the mischief of his soul, And they wrap it up.
Themes
Character » Of the wicked » Evil doers
Character » Of the wicked » Mischievous
Character of the wicked » Mischievous
Courts » Miscellaneous topics relating to courts and judicial procedure » Corruption of
Earthly » Reward » Earthly, a source of temptation
Evil » Zeal » Against » Manifested by evil men in pursuing their plans
hands » Of the wicked, described as » Mischievous
Removal » The righteous being removed from the earth
Reward » Spiritual crowns » Earthly, a source of temptation
Zeal » Evil » Manifested by evil men in pursuing their plans
Topics
Interlinear
Ra`
Kaph
Yatab
Sha'al
Dabar
References
American
Hastings
Word Count of 20 Translations in Micah 7:3
Verse Info
Context Readings
Wait Upon Yahweh
2 The godly man has 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. 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a bribe; and the great man, he utters his evil desire: so they weave it together. 4 The best of them is like a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of your watchmen and your punishment comes; now shall be their perplexity.
Cross References
Micah 3:11
Her heads judge for reward, and her priests teach for hire, and her prophets divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? no evil can come upon us.
Proverbs 4:16-17
For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause someone to fall.
Amos 5:12
For I know your manifold transgressions, and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
1 Kings 21:9-14
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
Isaiah 1:23
Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come before them.
Isaiah 26:21
For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her bloodshed, and shall no more cover her slain.
Jeremiah 3:5
Will he reserve his anger forever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, you have spoken and done all the evil things that you could.
Jeremiah 8:10
Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for everyone from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest everyone deals falsely.
Ezekiel 22:6
Behold, the princes of Israel, each one in you used his power to shed blood.
Ezekiel 22:27
Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
Hosea 4:18
Their drink is sour: they have committed harlotry continually: her rulers love shame more than glory.
Matthew 26:15
And said unto them, What will you give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Luke 12:1-2
In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so much that they tread one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.