From the Greek Septuagint text as was used by First Century Christians.
This is a prophecy that wasÊwritten around 750-BCE, which foretold the destruction of Samaria and the northern ten-tribe kingdom of IsraEl,
and which also foretold what would happen to Jerusalem before SenNacherIb the king of Assyria invaded their lands in the time of Judah's King HezekiAh.
The prophecy then goes on to tell of JeruSalem's destruction by Babylon and of how its people would thereafter be returned.
The curious case of the changing personal pronouns: Something that all translators notice when translating the words of the Prophets is the constant changing
of the personal pronouns from the first to the third person in the pronouncements. And what we have come to realize is that God didn't personally speak to the Prophets.
Rather, He sent His message through a mediator who appears to be someone referred to as 'The Word.' And so, wherever we find changes in personal pronouns
from the first to the third person, we have interpreted this as meaning that the mediator is quoting God. Also note that some of the words appear to be just those of the Prophet.
So you will find quotation marks where we understand that God or His messenger appear to be speaking, and where the messenger is quoting God, the words will be rendered in italic.
Did we get it all right? Probably not, but it has been an honest attempt at doing so.
Chapter 1
1 The Word of Jehovah came to MicAh the Morasthite in the days of JoTham, Ahaz, and HezekiAh (kings of Judah) and said this about the things he saw going on in Samaria and in JeruSalem.
2 'Hear these words, O you peoples;
Also pay attention, you lands
And those who are dwelling within you!
For, from His Most Holy [Temple],
Jehovah will now testify.
3 '{Look!} Jehovah will come from His place
And go down upon your high places,
Then He'll seat Himself in the heights.
4 'The mountains will shake underneath Him,
And like beeswax in fire, the valleys will melt,
Then flow like water that rolls down a slope.
5 'Yes, He will do all these things
Because of Jacob's irreverent ways
And because of the sins of the house of IsraEl.
'Isn't Samaria the irreverence of Jacob
And isn't Judah's sin, JeruSalem?
6 'So I'll turn Samaria into a barn
Where the fruits of the fields can be stored
Along with the [grapes] of the vineyards.
I'll tear down her stones in great chaos,
And her foundations, I'll thereafter expose.
7 'I'll cut her carved idols to pieces;
Her temple whores, I'll burn in a fire;
And I'll appoint her idols to extinction.
For she hired whores and gathered them thereÉ
So the wages of whores are what I'll destroy.
8 'For this, she'll wail and beat on her breastsÉ
She will go barefoot and nakedÉ
She'll beat on her chest like a dragon,
And mourn like the daughters of chained demons.
9 'This calamity upon her will surely arrive,
For she went down to Judah and JeruSalem
And touched the gates of my people.
10 'Now, you in Gath shouldn't feel special,
Nor should you who live within BakaImÉ
And don't laugh as you're trying to rebuild your homes,
For the land will be strewn with your laughter,
11 And nothing good will come to your towns.
'Then those in ZaAnan will beat on their breasts
On behalf of the houses next doorÉ
They'll be grieved by the things that will happen to you.
12 'For then, who'll console her when she is sad
Over the bad things Jehovah will send,
Which will reach all the way to JeruSalem's gates?
13 'They'll hear the sounds of chariots and riders
[Attacking the City] of LachIsh.
For, they're the ones who've been taking the lead
In the sins of the daughters of ZionÉ
All of IsraEl's godless deeds can be found there!
14 'Because of this, they'll be carried away
As the inheritance of Gath
To the poorest of homes,
Where even IsraEl's kings won't be valued.
15 'Yes, [Gath's] inheritance, they will becomeÉ
The people of LachIsh will then be their [slaves].
And off to AdulLam, they will carry
The glory of IsraEl's daughters.
16 'So, shave [the heads of] your beloved youngÉ
Make them as bald as the vultures;
For, they will all be carried away.
Chapter 2
1 'When they came here, they were looking for trouble
And doing what's bad in their beds.
They did it all during the daytime,
And they wouldn't raise their hands to Jehovah.
2 'Because they desired more fields,
They plundered orphans and tyrannized homesÉ
They plundered the people along with their homesÉ
Both the men and the things they'd inherit.
3 'It's because of this, that thus says Jehovah:
{Look!} Against their tribe, I'm bringing what's bad,
And no way will they then lift their necks
Or in any way walk erectÉ
It will be a bad time for them!
4 'In that day, they'll say these words about youÉ
They'll raise this lament in a song:
In our miserable condition, we knew misery;
For our people were [led off in] lines,
And no one [came here] to stop it
Or to bargain for their return;
So their fields were thereafter divided [as loot].
5 'Now, no one will measure allotments
Between those in the Lord's congregation.
6 You'll weep and cry for these things,
But I won't be removing your scorn.
7 'Then, this is what they'll say about you:
Because the house of Jacob provoked
Jehovah's Spirit to rage,
These are the things that He did;
For His words and His ways are all straight and good!
8 '[Through the years], My people have shown
A hatred and resistance to peace.
So they've flayed the skin [of those passing by],
[And brought on themselves] the conflict of war.
9 'Now My people's leaders will be driven from their homesÉ
They'll be pushed out because they're so wicked!
So, flee to the mountains of the ages;
10 Because, for you, there will be no rest,
Since you've become corrupt and unclean!
11 'So you'll run when no one is chasing,
Because of your lying spirit,
Which trickles upon you like the wine and strong drink
That you've gained from the sweat of your people.
12 'But, after some time, they will returnÉ
I'll gather Jacob along with the rest,
And I'll search for IsraEl's remnantsÉ
I'll collect them and I'll return them
Like sheep that have gone through hard timesÉ
They will jump away from those people,
And in their own pastures, they'll live as one flock.
13 'They'll [run] though the breach that's before them;
For the gate will be cut so they can escape.
Before them, will travel their king,
And they'll be led by their Lord.'
Chapter 3
1 So listen, you head ones of Jacob,
And the rest who remain of IsraEl's house!
When will you learn to do what is fair?
2 Since you've hated what's good and searched for what's bad;
They'll reach out for you and tear off your skin,
Then rip the flesh from your bones,
3 The same as you've eaten the flesh of my people
And flayed off all of their skinÉ
As you broke their bones as flesh for the pot,
And as meat for the cauldron.
4 Then you'll cry out to Jehovah,
But He won't listen to youÉ
He'll just turn His face at that time,
Because of the wicked things that you've done.
5 So, to the prophets, Jehovah declares
(To those misleading His peopleÉ
Those clenching their teeth as they proclaim peace
When [God hasn't put] any [words] in their mouths):
'A holy war I'll be sending to you
6 Because [you have spoken] such things.
'Then you'll see no visions during the nightsÉ
You'll just see darkness (not light).
For the sun will not rise on you prophets,
And the days will darken before you.
7 'Disgrace will then come to those who dream dreams,
And those telling the future will be ridiculed.
About them, all will speak badly,
And no one will pay attention to them.'
8 However, I will be filled
With the strength and the Breath of Jehovah,
As well as with His justice and might,
So I can report the irreverence of Jacob
And speak to IsraEl about all their sins.
9 Hear all these things, O leaders of Jacob,
And you remnants of IsraEl's houseÉ
You who hate what is fair and twist what is straightÉ
10 You who've built Zion on blood
And filled JeruSalem with injustice!
11 For your leaders take bribes when they judge;
Your priests require a wage for replies;
And your prophets ask for silver for prophecies.
Yet they still rest upon Jehovah and say:
'Isn't Jehovah among us?
No way will He bring bad things upon us!'
12 And it is for all of these reasons
That Zion will be plowed like a field;
JeruSalem will become empty barns;
And the Temple Mount, just a place in the woods.
Chapter 4
1 'But, in the last days, the Mountain of Jehovah
Will be seen once again
Sitting above the rest of the mountainsÉ
Raised higher than all of the hills,
And to it, all the peoples will run.
2 'Many nations will go there and say:
Let's ascend the Mountain of Jehovah
And enter the [Temple] of Jacob's God.
For there, He will show us His ways,
And we will thereafter walk in His paths!
'For, Laws will come out of ZionÉ
And from JeruSalem, the Word of Jehovah
3 Will serve as judge between peoples,
And make decisions among distant tribes.
'Then they'll cut their swords into plows,
And their spears, [they'll beat] into sickles.
Nation won't rise against nation again,
Nor will they learn war anymore.
4 'Under their own grapevines, each person will sit,
And they'll rest beneath their own fig treesÉ
For no one will make them afraid anymore.
(This was said by the mouth of Jehovah the Almighty).
5 'And though other people may go their own way;
You will walk in the Name of your God
From the present and into the ages.
6 'And in that day, says Jehovah;
I'll regather all those who were broken
(Those whom I once threw away),
And I'll welcome back those whom I've pushed away.
7 'Yes, those who've been broken, I'll welcome,
And I'll make a great nation of them once againÉ
Yes of those whom I once pushed away!
And thereafter and into the ages,
Their Lord will rule from Mount Zion.
8 'But on you, O tower of the flockÉ
On you, O JeruSalem's daughter
(You austere daughter of Zion);
The foremost of Babylon's kings
Will then come here and enter your [gates]!
9 'For, why will you learn to do such bad thingsÉ
Won't there be a king here among you,
And will all good council have perished?
'So you'll endure birth pangs like one who gives birthÉ
10 But hang on and take courage, O daughter of Zion,
The same as [a woman] who's about to give birth!
'For what's coming to you is a city
That will set up its camps in your plainsÉ
And then, to Babylon, they'll take you.
But your God, Jehovah, will save you from there,
And ransom you from your enemy's hands.
11 'Now, many nations have gathered against you,
And this is what they are saying:
Our eyes will rejoice as we're gazing on Zion!
12 'Yet, they don't know the ways of Jehovah,
And His council, they don't understand.
For like sheaves [of grain], they'll be gathered,
And on a threshing floor, they'll be piled
13 So that you can thresh them, O daughter of Zion!
'For I'll turn your horns into iron,
And I'll turn your hoofs into brass.
Then, I will dissolve many peoples,
And you will bring their abundance
As well as their strength to the Lord of the earth.
Chapter 5
1 'Now the daughter of Zion has reason to fear,
For upon her, He has decreed war,
And they'll strike IsraEl's tribes on the jaw!
2 'Then from you, O BethLehem of EphRatha
(The few among the thousands of Judah)
Will come a man who'll be IsraEl's king
Whose [roots] are from the most ancient times
And from the days of the ages.
'3 'And because of this, he'll appoint her
A time that will be [like the giving] of birth.
And she will thereafter give birth
To the remnant of those who are brothers,
And to the sons of IsraEl, they will return.
4 'Yes, by the strength of Jehovah,
A shepherd will rise to [watch over] them,
And they'll bask in the glory of the Name of their God,
Which will then become known to the ends of the earth.
5 'And this is [the sign that there will be] peace:
When the Assyrians arrive in your land
And they climb up onto your place.
'Seven shepherds will then rise against them
[And whip them] with the eight strokes of men.
6 'They'll shepherd Assyria with a broadsword,
And the land of Nimrod [will serve as] her grave.
For, from the Assyrians, He'll save you,
When against your land, they've ascended,
And when they've crossed over your borders.
7 'Thereafter, the few remaining of Jacob
Will [be scattered] among many peoples.
But, like the dew that falls from the Lord,
And like the lambs [that are fed] on wild grass;
They will be gathered by no one,
Nor among sons of men, will they stand.
8 'And though the remnant of Jacob
Will be [scattered] among all the nations
And dwell among many peoples;
Like lions among cattle, they'll beÉ
As bear cubs among flocks of sheep.
'They will go through and scatter their preyÉ
None of which will be saved.
9 They will lift their hands against their opponents,
And their enemies will all be destroyed.
10 'But [before] that day, says Jehovah;
I'll destroy all your horses and chariotsÉ
11 All the cities in your land will then be destroyed,
And I will remove all your forts.
12 'From your hands, I'll wipe out your potions,
And there'll be no fortune tellers among you.
13 I'll also destroy all the idols you've carved
And remove the sacred stones from your midstÉ
You'll [no longer] bow to the works of your hands.
14 'I'll cut down all of your sacred poles
And wipe away all of your cities.
15 Then, in My anger and rage,
I'll send vengeance upon all the nations,
Because they too failed to listen!
Chapter 6
1 'Hear indeed, what Jehovah has said!
Arise and plead with the mountainsÉ
Let all the hills hear what He's said!
2 'Listen, O mountains, to the judgments of GodÉ
You foundations of the earth and its valleys!
For between Jehovah and His people
There is a case to be triedÉ
And with IsraEl, He is going to war!
3 'O My people, what did I doÉ
Tell Me what trouble I've caused you!
4 From the land of Egypt, I led youÉ
From the house of slaves, I ransomed you back,
And before your face, I had sent you
Miriam, Aaron, and Moses!
5 'Remember the plans that Moab's King Balak
Had once made against you,
And the answers that BalaAm (the son of BeOr)
Was given from Shittim to GilGal,
So he'd know the righteous ways of the Lord.
6 'So, how can you conquer Jehovah?
Can you snatch Him down from the heights?
With your whole burnt-offerings, can you beat Him,
Or with [the blood of] of one-year-old calves? No!
7 'Will Jehovah [be swayed] by a thousand male sheep
Or ten thousand hearty winter yearlings? No!
For your sins, can you offer your first-born? No!
Can you offer the first fruits of your bellies
To cover [the sins] in your lives? No!
8 'To you, He's explained it, O manÉ
All the things that are good.
This is all that Jehovah requiresÉ
He wants you to be fair and love mercy,
And to be ready to walk with your God!
9 'So the voice of Jehovah is calling to you,
And all fearing His Name will be saved.
So, listen to this, O you tribes:
By whom will your cities be adorned?
10 Won't the homes of Law breakers be burned
Along with [the houses] of those who love crimesÉ
All the insolent and the unrighteous?
11 'Will I overlook your wicked scales
And your bags of deceptive weights?
12 Will your irreverent ways be covered by wealth?
And all you liars who live there;
Will your [wicked] tongues [bring praise] from your mouths? No!
13 'For your sins, I'll torment you to extinction,
14 Then you'll eat and never be filled.
I'll banish you, and you will be lost
(No way will you be preserved);
And the survivors, I'll hand to the broadsword.
15 'Then, though you will plant, you won't reap;
And though you'll be pressing olives,
You will not anoint with their oil,
Nor will you drink any wineÉ
Since the Laws of My people will be wiped away.
16 'For the rules of Omri, you've chosen,
And the deeds of the house of Ahab.
Yes, you have chosen their plans
So you wouldn't be laughed at by othersÉ
Thus I'm bringing extinction upon you.'
Chapter 7
1 I'm like a man who gleans stubble in the harvest,
Or one who gleans grapes after they're goneÉ
The ripe ones for which my soul craves (woe is me)!
2 For the upright have all been wiped from the landÉ
Those who walk straight, no longer exist!
All Righteous blood has been squeezed out
By the oppression of their neighbors,
3 Who with their hands, are doing what's bad.
And though your rulers ask you for gifts
And your judges [give rulings] for bribesÉ
This is what your souls have desired!
4 So, He'll take away all your good things
Like a moth chewing through woolen clothes
[On behalf of those] who walk a straight line
In the day that you're being inspected.
Yes, woe to you, for your punishment is due,
And soon you'll be doing [much] weeping.
5 So, don't confide in your friends,
And put no hope in your leaders!
Watch out for the one who sleeps in your bedÉ
To her, show nothing at all!
6 For sons will dishonor their fathers,
And daughters will oppose their own mothersÉ
It's daughters-in-law against mothers-in-law,
And your enemies will be those in your own homes.'
7 But, I will look to my Lord;
On my Savior, Jehovah, I'll wait,
And my God will listen to me.
8 O my enemies; do not rejoice,
For though I've fallen, I will rise again.
And if I must sit in the darkness,
The Lord will provide me with light.
9 I'll endure the rage of Jehovah;
For against Him, I'm also a sinner.
But I'll wait until He sends justiceÉ
Until He shows me His judgments
And leads me into the light,
Where I'll look to His righteous ways.
10 Then, upon my enemies, I'll gaze,
For then they must bear all the shame;
Since they're the ones who once asked me,
'So, where is Jehovah, your God?'
'My eyes have noticed these things,
So I'll trample on her like mud in the streetsÉ
11 Like mortar on bricks, she'll be wiped away,
And her rules will be gone in that day.
12 'Your cities will then all be leveled
And divided among the Assyrians.
Yes your fortified cities will be given away
From Tyre down to the [Nile] riverÉ
From mountain to mountain and sea to sea.
13 'Yes, the land will all be destroyed,
Along with [the people] who live thereÉ
It's the fruitage of the things that they've done.'
14 [O God;]
Tend Your people with Your might rod;
For, they are Your inherited sheepÉ
May they camp all alone in the woods
And [on the sides] of [Mount] Carmel!
In BaShan and GileAd, please feed them
As You did for them back in the age
15 When [You led] them from Egypt.
16 'Wonderful things, I will show them,
Which the nations will see in disgrace.
For [the nations will lose] all their strengthÉ
They'll place their hands over their mouths
And they will cover their ears.
17 Then they'll lick the dust just like snakes
That crawl along on the ground.
And by this, they will be confused.'
Yes, by God, they will be amazedÉ
But they must learn how to fear Him,
18 For to what other god can He be compared?'
But, as You remove the unrighteous,
[Please overlook] the irreverence
Of Your inherited ones that are leftÉ
Hold back Your rage for the things that You've seen,
And please show mercy upon us!
19 Please turn and show pity upon us,
But sink our unrighteous waysÉ
Cast our sins into the depths of the seas.
20 Then to Jacob, please send the truth,
And on AbraHam's [seed], please show mercy,
As You swore in Your oath to our fathers.