Because we need just leaders, we must be willing to hear the truth

Micah 3:1-2a; 4-7; 9-12

1  And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob

    and rulers of the house of Israel!

Is it not for you to know justice?—

   2  you who hate the good and love the evil,

4  … they will cry to the Lord, but he will not answer them;

he will hide his face from them at that time,

    because they have made their deeds evil.

5  Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets

    who lead my people astray,

who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat,

but declare war against him

    who puts nothing into their mouths.

6  Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,

    and darkness to you, without divination.

The sun shall go down on the prophets,

    and the day shall be black over them;

7  the seers shall be disgraced,

    and the diviners put to shame;

they shall all cover their lips,

    for there is no answer from God.

9  Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob

    and rulers of the house of Israel,

who detest justice

    and make crooked all that is straight,

10  who build Zion with blood

    and Jerusalem with iniquity.

11  Its heads give judgment for a bribe;

    its priests teach for a price;

    its prophets practice divination for money;

yet they lean on the Lord and say,

    “Is not the Lord in the midst of us?

    No disaster shall come upon us.”

12  Therefore because of you

    Zion shall be plowed as a field;

Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,

    and the mountain of the house a wooded height.