1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 <1> During the time that Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah, the word of the Lord came to Micah. Micah was from Moresheth. He saw these visions about Samaria and Jerusalem.
<2> Listen, all of you people!
Earth and everyone on it,[1] listen!
My Master, the Lord, will come
from his holy temple.
My Master will come as a witness[2]
against you.
<3> See, the Lord is coming out of his place.
He is coming down to walk
on the high places[3] of the earth.
<4> The mountains will melt under him
like wax before a fire.
The valleys will split open
and flow like water down a steep hill.
<5> This will happen because of Jacob's[4] sin,
because of the sins of the nation[5] of Israel.
What caused Jacob[6] to sin?
It was Samaria.
Where is the high place in Judah?
It is Jerusalem.
<6> So I will change Samaria into a pile of rocks in the field,
a place ready for planting grapes.
I will push Samaria's stones down into the valley,
leaving nothing but the foundations.
<7> All her idols[7]
will be broken into pieces.
Her prostitute's wages (idols)
will be burned in fire.
I will destroy all her statues of false gods,
because Samaria got her riches by being unfaithful to me.[8]
So those things will be taken by people
who are not faithful to me.[9]
<8> I will be very sad about what will happen.
I will go without sandals and clothes.
I will cry like a dog.[10]
I will mourn like a bird.[11]
<9> Samaria's[12] wound cannot be healed.
Her disease has spread to Judah.
It has reached the city gate of my people;
it has spread all the way to Jerusalem.
<10> Don't tell it in Gath.[13]
Don't cry in Acco.[14]
Roll yourself in the dust at Beth Ophrah.[15]
<11> You people living in Shaphir,[16]
pass on your way, naked and ashamed.
The people living in Zaanan[17] will not come out.
The people in Beth Ezel[18] will cry
and take their support from you.
<12> The people living in Maroth[19] have become weak waiting for something good to happen,
because trouble came down from the Lord and has reached the city gate of Jerusalem.
<13> Lady of Lachish,[20] tie a fast horse
to the chariot.[21]
Lachish, you are the first to be sacrificed[22] for Daughter Zion[23]
because you followed in Israel's sins.[24]
<14> So you must give goodbye gifts
to Moresheth[25] in Gath.
The houses in Aczib[26] will trick
the kings of Israel.
<15> You people who live in Mareshah,[27]
I will bring someone against you who will take the things you own.
The Glory[28] of Israel
will come into Adullam.[29]
<16> So cut off your hair, make yourself bald,[30]
because you will cry for the children you love.
Make yourself bald like an eagle[31] and show your sadness,
because your children will be taken away from you.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.