Micah 1

Introduction

1:1 This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to¹ Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message² during the reigns of³ Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to⁴ Samaria⁵ and Jerusalem.⁶

The Judge is Coming

1:2 Listen, all you nations!⁷

Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth!⁸

The sovereign Lord will testify⁹ against you;

the Lord will accuse you¹⁰ from his majestic palace.¹¹

1:3 Look,¹² the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place!

He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!¹³

1:4 The mountains will disintegrate¹⁴ beneath him,

and the valleys will be split in two.¹⁵

The mountains will melt¹⁶ like wax in a fire,

the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope.¹⁷

1:5 All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion

and¹⁸ the sins of the nation¹⁹ of Israel.

How has Jacob rebelled, you ask?²⁰

Samaria epitomizes their rebellion!²¹

Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask?²²

They are right in Jerusalem!²³

1:6 “I will turn Samaria²⁴ into a heap of ruins in an open field –

vineyards will be planted there!²⁵

I will tumble²⁶ the rubble of her stone walls²⁷ down into the valley,

and tear down her fortifications to their foundations.²⁸

1:7 All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces;

all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire.²⁹

I will make a waste heap³⁰ of all her images.

Since³¹ she gathered the metal³² as a prostitute collects her wages,

the idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.”³³

1:8 For this reason I³⁴ will mourn and wail;

I will walk around barefoot³⁵ and without my outer garments.³⁶

I will howl³⁷ like a wild dog,³⁸

and screech³⁹ like an owl.⁴⁰

1:9 For Samaria’s⁴¹ disease⁴² is incurable.

It has infected⁴³ Judah;

it has spread to⁴⁴ the leadership⁴⁵ of my people

and has even contaminated Jerusalem!⁴⁶

1:10 Don’t spread the news in Gath!⁴⁷

Don’t shed even a single tear!⁴⁸

In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust!⁴⁹

1:11 Residents⁵⁰ of Shaphir,⁵¹ pass by in nakedness and humiliation!⁵²

The residents of Zaanan can’t leave their city.⁵³

Beth Ezel⁵⁴ mourns,⁵⁵

“He takes from you what he desires.”⁵⁶

1:12 Indeed, the residents of Maroth⁵⁷ hope for something good to happen,⁵⁸

though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.⁵⁹

1:13 Residents of Lachish,⁶⁰ hitch the horses to the chariots!

You⁶¹ influenced Daughter Zion⁶² to sin,⁶³

for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back⁶⁴ to you!

1:14 Therefore you⁶⁵ will have to say farewell⁶⁶ to Moresheth Gath.

The residents⁶⁷ of Achzib⁶⁸ will be as disappointing

as a dried up well⁶⁹ to the kings of Israel.⁷⁰

1:15 Residents of Mareshah,⁷¹ a conqueror will attack you,⁷²

the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam.⁷³

1:16 Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love;⁷⁴

shave your foreheads as bald⁷⁵ as an eagle,⁷⁶

for they are taken from you into exile.

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