The Impending Doom Of Samaria And Jerusalem

1 This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to Samaria and Jerusalem.

1 The (A)word of the Lord which came to (B)Micah of Moresheth in the days of (C)Jotham, (D)Ahaz and (E)Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

1 The word of the Lord that came(A) to Micah(B) the Moreshite(C)—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem in the days of Jotham,(D) Ahaz,(E) and Hezekiah,(F) kings of Judah.

1 This message from the LORD came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of the Judean kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah concerning the vision he saw about Samaria and Jerusalem:

Coming Judgment On Israel

2 Listen, all you nations! Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth! The sovereign Lord will testify against you; the Lord will accuse you from his majestic palace.

2 Hear, O peoples, all of (a)you;(F)Listen, O earth and (b)all it contains,And let the Lord (c)God be a (G)witness against you,The Lord from His holy temple.

2 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

2 Listen, all you peoples;(G)pay attention, earth(a) and everyone in it!(H)The Lord God will be a witness against you,(I)the Lord, from His holy temple.(J)

2 "Listen, people! All of you! Earth! Pay attention, and all you inhabitants of it! May the Lord GOD be a witness against you the Lord from his holy Temple.

Judgment Against Samaria And Jerusalem

3 Look, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth's mountaintops!

3 For behold, the Lord is (H)coming forth from His place.He will come down and (I)tread on the high places of the (d)earth.

3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

3 Look, the Lord is leaving His place(K)and coming down to tramplethe heights(b) of the earth.(L)

3 Look here! The LORD is coming from his place! He will come down and will trample down the high places throughout the land.

4 The mountains will disintegrate beneath him, and the valleys will be split in two. The mountains will melt like wax in a fire, the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope.

4 (J)The mountains will melt under HimAnd the valleys will be split,Like wax before the fire,Like water poured down a steep place.

4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.

4 The mountains will melt beneath Him,and the valleys will split apart,like wax near a fire,(M)like water cascading down a mountainside.

4 The mountains will melt under him and the valleys will split apart, like wax in the presence of fire and like water gushing down a steep incline.

5 All this is because of Jacob's rebellion and the sins of the nation of Israel. How has Jacob rebelled, you ask? Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! Where are Judah's pagan worship centers, you ask? They are right in Jerusalem!

5 All this is for the rebellion of JacobAnd for the sins of the house of Israel.What is the (K)rebellion of Jacob?Is it not (L)Samaria?What is the (M)high (e)place of Judah?Is it not Jerusalem?

5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?

5 All this will happen because of Jacob’s rebellionand the sins of the house of Israel.What is the rebellion of Jacob?Isn’t it Samaria?(N)And what is the high place of Judah?(O)Isn’t it Jerusalem?

5 All this comes about due to the transgression of Jacob, and due to the sins of the house of Israel. What is Jacob's sin? It's Samaria, isn't it? And what's Judah's high place? It's Jerusalem, isn't it?

6 "I will turn Samaria into a heap of ruins in an open field -- vineyards will be planted there! I will tumble the rubble of her stone walls down into the valley, and tear down her fortifications to their foundations.

6 For I will make Samaria a (N)heap of ruins (f)in the open country,(O)Planting places for a vineyard.I will (P)pour her stones down into the valleyAnd will (Q)lay bare her foundations.

6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.

6 Therefore, I will make Samariaa heap of ruins(P) in the countryside,a planting area(Q) for a vineyard.I will roll her stones(R) into the valleyand expose her foundations.(S)

6 "So I will turn Samaria into a mound of dirt in a field, a place to plant vineyards. And I will dump her building stones into the valley, uncovering her foundation.

7 All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces; all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire. I will make a waste heap of all her images. Since she gathered the metal as a prostitute collects her wages, the idols will become a prostitute's wages again."

7 All of her (R)idols will be smashed,All of her earnings will be burned with fireAnd all of her images I will make desolate,For she collected them from a (S)harlot’s earnings,And to the earnings of a harlot they will return.

7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

7 All her carved images will be smashed(T) to pieces;all her wages(U) will be burned in the fire,and I will destroy all her idols.Since she collected the wages of a prostitute,(V)they will be used again for a prostitute.

7 All of her carved images will be crushed to pieces, all the earnings of her prostitution will be burned up, and I will destroy all her idols; because she collected the wages of prostitution, and to the wages of prostitution they will return."

Micah's Lament

8 For this reason I will mourn and wail; I will walk around barefoot and without my outer garments. I will howl like a wild dog, and screech like an owl.

8 Because of this I must lament and wail,I must go (T)barefoot and naked;I must make a lament like the (U)jackalsAnd a mourning like the ostriches.

8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

8 Because of this I will lament and wail;I will walk barefoot and naked.(W)I will howl like the jackals(X)and mourn like ostriches.(c)

8 "Therefore I will cry out and grieve loudly; I will walk around stripped and naked. I will cry out like a jackal and mourn like a company of ostriches.

9 For Samaria's disease is incurable. It has infected Judah; it has spread to the leadership of my people and has even contaminated Jerusalem!

9 For her (g)(V)wound is incurable,For (W)it has come to Judah;It has reached the (X)gate of my people,Even to Jerusalem.

9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

9 For her wound is incurable(Y)and has reached even Judah;(Z)it has approached the gate of my people,(AA)as far as Jerusalem.

9 For Samaria's injury is fatal, reaching all the way to Judah, extending even to the gate of my people to Jerusalem."

The Enemy Approaches Jerusalem

10 Don't spread the news in Gath! Don't shed even a single tear! In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust!

10 (Y)Tell it not in Gath,Weep not at all.At (h)Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust.

10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.

10 Don’t announce it in Gath,(AB)don’t weep at all.Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.

10 "Don't discuss it in Gath! Don't cry bitterly in Akim! Roll in the ashes, Beth-leaphrah!

11 Residents of Shaphir, pass by in nakedness and humiliation! The residents of Zaanan can't leave their city. Beth Ezel mourns, "He takes from you what he desires."

11 (i)Go on your way, inhabitant of (j)Shaphir, in (Z)shameful nakedness.The inhabitant of (k)(AA)Zaanan does not (l)escape.The lamentation of (m)Beth-ezel: “He will take from you its (n)support.”

11 Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing.

11 Depart in shameful nakedness,(AC)you residents of Shaphir;the residents of Zaanan(AD) will not come out.Beth-ezel is lamenting;its support(d) is taken from you.

11 Run away, you residents of Shaphir, displaying your shameful nakedness. Don't come out, you residents of Zaanan! Your firm standing will disappear as Beth-ezel mourns.

12 Indeed, the residents of Maroth hope for something good to happen, though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.

12 For the inhabitant of (o)MarothBecomes weak (AB)waiting for good,Because a calamity has come down from the LordTo the (AC)gate of Jerusalem.

12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.

12 Though the residents of Marothanxiously wait for something good,(AE)disaster has come from the Lord(AF)to the gate of Jerusalem.

12 Even though the inhabitants of Maroth long for success, nevertheless evil descended from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 Residents of Lachish, hitch the horses to the chariots! You influenced Daughter Zion to sin, for Israel's rebellious deeds can be traced back to you!

13 Harness the chariot to the team of horses,O inhabitant of (AD)Lachish—She was the beginning of sinTo the daughter of Zion—Because in you were foundThe (AE)rebellious acts of Israel.

13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.

13 Harness the horses to the chariot,you residents of Lachish.(AG)This was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zion,because Israel’s acts of rebellion(AH) can be traced to you.

13 "You inhabitants of Lachish, harness your chariot to your swiftest steed the daughter of Zion has begun to sin because within you the transgressions of Israel were revealed.

14 Therefore you will have to say farewell to Moresheth Gath. The residents of Achzib will be as disappointing as a dried up well to the kings of Israel.

14 Therefore you will give parting (AF)giftsOn behalf of Moresheth-gath;The houses of (AG)Achzib will become a (AH)deceptionTo the kings of Israel.

14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.

14 Therefore, send farewell gifts(AI) to Moresheth-gath;the houses of Achzib(AJ) are a deception(AK)to the kings of Israel.

14 Therefore give your gifts to Moresheth-gath; that is, the houses of Achzib as a deceitful symbol to the kings of Israel.

15 Residents of Mareshah, a conqueror will attack you, the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam.

15 Moreover, I will bring on youThe one who takes possession,O inhabitant of (p)(AI)Mareshah.The glory of Israel will enter (AJ)Adullam.

15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.

15 I will again bring a conqueroragainst you who live in Mareshah.(AL)The nobility(e) of Israel will come to Adullam.(AM)

15 Nevertheless, I will deliver an heir to you, inhabitants of Mareshah to Adullam the glory of Israel will come.

16 Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love; shave your foreheads as bald as an eagle, for they are taken from you into exile.

16 Make yourself (AK)bald and cut off your hair,Because of the children of your delight;Extend your baldness like the eagle,For they will (AL)go from you into exile.

16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.

16 Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair(AN)in sorrow for your precious children;make yourselves as bald as an eagle,for they have been taken from you into exile.(AO)

16 "Shave your head and cut off your locks as you mourn your beloved children. Make yourself bald as an eagle, because they will go from you into exile!"

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible