Old Testament
The Book of Micah
The Book of Micah is the thirty-eighth of the 46 books of the Old Testament: 7 chapters and 104 verses. The Douay-Rheims calls it Micheas.
About Micah
About Micah · Prophetic oracles
Micah, a village prophet contemporary with Isaiah, indicted both capitals — Samaria and Jerusalem — for land-grabbing, corrupt courts, and preachers for hire. His book alternates doom and promise, and it holds two of prophecy's most famous lines: the ruler to be born in tiny Bethlehem, and the summary of everything God requires — to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. It was written to insist that covenant faith is measured in courtrooms and marketplaces, not only sanctuaries.
| Testament | Old Testament — book 38 of 46, 38 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 7 |
| Verses | 104, as Bless numbers them |
| In the Douay-Rheims | Micheas |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 7 chapters · 35 notes |
| Catechism | 2 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 7 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
Micah 1
16 versesSamaria for her sins shall be destroyed by the Assyrians; they shall also invade Juda and Jerusalem.
Micah 2
13 versesThe Israelites by their crying injustices provoke God to punish them. He shall at last restore Jacob.
Micah 3
12 versesFor the sins of the rich oppressing the poor, of false prophets flattering for lucre, and of judges perverting justice, Jerusalem and the temple shall be destroyed.
Micah 4
13 versesThe glory of the church of Christ, by the conversion of the Gentiles. The Jews shall be carried captives to Babylon, and be delivered again.
Micah 5
14 versesThe birth of Christ in Bethlehem: his reign and spiritual conquests.
Micah 6
16 versesGod expostulates with the Jews for their ingratitude and sins: for which they shall be punished.
Micah 7
20 versesThe prophet laments, that notwithstanding all his preaching, the generality are still corrupt in their manners: therefore their desolation is at hand: but they shall be restored again and prosper; and all mankind shall be redeemed by Christ.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, Micah is read at the principal Mass on 2 days in the US calendar. The next 6 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday of the Second Week of Lent | First Reading | Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 | |
| computed | Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary | First Reading | Micah 5:1-4a |
| computed | Fourth Sunday of Advent | First Reading | Micah 5:1-4a |
| computed | Saturday of the Second Week of Lent | First Reading | Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 |
| computed | Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | Micah 6:1-4, 6-8 |
| computed | Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary | First Reading | Micah 5:1-4a |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.