9. Ahab king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah had on their royal robes and were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor, near the entrance to the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were standing before them speaking their messages.
10. Zedekiah son of Kenaanah had made some iron horns. He said to Ahab, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You will use these horns to fight the Arameans until they are destroyed.’ ”
11. All the other prophets said the same thing, “Attack Ramoth in Gilead and win, because the Lord will hand the Arameans over to you.”
12. The messenger who had gone to get Micaiah said to him, “All the other prophets are saying King Ahab will win. You should agree with them and give the king a good answer.”
13. But Micaiah answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what my God says.”
14. When Micaiah came to Ahab, the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth in Gilead or not?”Micaiah answered, “Attack and win! They will be handed over to you.”
15. But Ahab said to Micaiah, “How many times do I have to tell you to speak only the truth to me in the name of the Lord?”
16. So Micaiah answered, “I saw the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord said, ‘They have no leaders. They should go home and not fight.’ ”
17. Then Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I told you! He never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad.”
18. But Micaiah said, “Hear the message from the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with his heavenly army standing on his right and on his left.
19. The Lord said, ‘Who will trick King Ahab of Israel into attacking Ramoth in Gilead where he will be killed?’“Some said one thing; some said another.
20. Then one spirit came and stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will trick him.’“The Lord asked, ‘How will you do it?’
21. “The spirit answered, ‘I will go to Ahab’s prophets and make them tell lies.’“So the Lord said, ‘You will succeed in tricking him. Go and do it.’ ”
22. Micaiah said, “Ahab, the Lord has made your prophets lie to you, and the Lord has decided that disaster should come to you.”