1 Kings 22:13

11 Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”

12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”

Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the LORD lives, I will speak whatever the LORD tells me.”

15 When Micaiah arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should we refrain?” “Go up and triumph,” Micaiah replied, “for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah instructed him, “Behold now, with one accord the words of the prophets are favorable to the king. So please let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”
KJV
And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.
WEB
The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “See now, the prophets declare good to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak good.”
ASV
And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good.
DARBY
And the messenger that went to call Micah spoke to him saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one assent: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak good.
BLB
And the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Behold, please, the words of the prophets with one accord [are] good unto the king. Let be, please, your word like the word of one of them, and speak good.”
ÅB
Og budet som var gått for å tilkalle Mika, sa til ham: Profetene spår med en munn godt for kongen; la nå også dine ord stemme overens med deres og spå godt!
OTB
Budbringeren som gikk for å hente Mika, sa til ham: "Se, profetenes ord er alle enige og lover kongen suksess. La ditt ord være som deres, og tal vel."
B1930
Og budet som var gått for å tilkalle Mika, sa til ham: Profetene spår med en munn godt for kongen; la nu også dine ord stemme overens med deres og spå godt!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Isaiah 30:10–11

    They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 7:3

    They delight the king with their evil, and the princes with their lies.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 10:11

    He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 50:21

    You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But now I rebuke you and accuse you to your face.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 2:14–16

    The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 11:1

    In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!

    Read in context
  • Amos 7:13–17

    But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 14:1

    The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

    Read in context