Micah 7:3
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New International Version (©1984)
Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire--they all conspire together.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul; So they weave it together.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Their hands are skilled in doing evil. Officials ask for gifts. Judges accept bribes. Powerful people dictate what they want. So they scheme together.

King James Bible
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.

American King James Version
That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward; and the great man, he utters his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.

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.

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The evil of their hands they call good: the prince requireth, and the judge is for giving: and the great man hath uttered the desire of his soul, and they have troubled it.

Darby Bible 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.

English Revised 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 mischief of his soul: thus they weave it together.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Young's 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.

Geneva Study Bible

That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the {c} great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so {d} they wrap it up.

(c) That is, the rich man that is able to give money, abstains from no wickedness or injury.

(d) These men agree among themselves, and conspire with one another to do evil.

Wesley's Notes

7:3 Both hands - With all diligence. The great man - The great man at court, who can do what he will there. Uttereth - Is bold to speak plainly. Desire - His unjust, oppressive design. They - They all jointly promote violence and cruelty.

King James Translators' Notes

his...: Heb. the mischief of his soul

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly-literally, "Their hands are for evil that they may do it well" (that is, cleverly and successfully).

the great man, he-emphatic repetition. As for the great man, he no sooner has expressed his bad desire (literally, the "mischief" or "lust of his soul"), than the venal judges are ready to wrest the decision of the case according to his wish.

so they wrap it up-The Hebrew is used of intertwining cords together. The "threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ec 4:12); here the "prince," the "judge," and the "great man" are the three in guilty complicity. "They wrap it up," namely, they conspire to carry out the great man's desire at the sacrifice of justice.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:1-7 The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.


Proverbs 4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; And they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble.
Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.
Amos 5:12 For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, You who distress the righteous and accept bribes And turn aside the poor in the gate.
Micah 3:11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD saying, "Is not the LORD in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us." (NASB ©1995)

Accepts Bribe Conspire Decisions Demands Desire Dictate Diligently Earnestly Evil Gifts Gives Great Hands Judge Makes Mischievous Money Pleasure Powerful Prince Ready Requests Reward Right Ruler Skilled Soul Together Twisted Uttereth Utters Weave Wrap


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.

do. Pr 4:16,17 Jer 3:5 Eze 22:6

the prince. 3:11 Isa 1:23 Jer 8:10 Eze 22:27 Ho 4:18 Am 5:12 Mt 26:15

the great. 1Ki 21:9-14

his mischievous desire. Heb. the mischief of his soul. wrap. Isa 26:21 Lu 12:1,2 1Co 4:5

Bible Gateway: Micah Chapter 7 Verse 3 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a accepts all also And are asks Both bribe bribes Concerning conspire demands desire dictate do doing evil for gifts great hands his in it judge man of powerful prince ruler skilled So soul speaks the they together weave well what

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OT Prophets: Micah 7:3 Their hands are on that which (Mc Mic. Mi) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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