1:5 All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion
and 1 the sins of the nation 2 of Israel.
How has Jacob rebelled, you ask? 3
Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! 4
Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask? 5
They are right in Jerusalem! 6
1:13 Residents of Lachish, 7 hitch the horses to the chariots!
You 8 influenced Daughter Zion 9 to sin, 10
for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back 11 to you!
3:8 But I 12 am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives,
and have a strong commitment to justice. 13
This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion,
and Israel with its sin. 14
6:7 Will the Lord accept a thousand rams,
or ten thousand streams of olive oil?
Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion,
my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin? 15
7:18 There is no other God like you! 16
You 17 forgive sin
and pardon 18 the rebellion
of those who remain among your people. 19
You do not remain angry forever, 20
but delight in showing loyal love.
1 tn Heb “and because of.” This was simplified in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tn Heb “house.”
3 tn Heb “What is the rebellion of Jacob?”
4 tn Heb “Is it not Samaria?” The negated rhetorical question expects the answer, “It certainly is!” To make this clear the question has been translated as a strong affirmative statement.
5 tn Heb “What are Judah’s high places?”
6 tn Heb “Is it not Jerusalem?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “It certainly is!”
7 sn The place name Lachish sounds like the Hebrew word for “team [of horses].”
8 tn Heb “she”; this has been translated as second person (“you”) in keeping with the direct address to the residents of Lachish in the previous line.
9 sn The epithet Daughter Zion pictures the city of Jerusalem as a young lady.
10 tn Heb “She was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zion.”
11 tn Heb “for in you was found the transgressions of Israel.”
13 sn The prophet Micah speaks here and contrasts himself with the mercenaries just denounced by the
14 tn Heb “am full of power, the Spirit of the
15 tn Heb “to declare to Jacob his rebellion and to Israel his sin.” The words “this enables me” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
19 tn Heb “the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) is often translated “soul,” but the word usually refers to the whole person; here “the sin of my soul” = “my sin.”
25 tn Heb “Who is a God like you?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No one!”
26 tn Heb “one who.” The prayer moves from direct address (second person) in v. 18a to a descriptive (third person) style in vv. 18b-19a and then back to direct address (second person) in vv. 19b-20. Due to considerations of English style and the unfamiliarity of the modern reader with alternation of persons in Hebrew poetry, the entire section has been rendered as direct address (second person) in the translation.
27 tn Heb “pass over.”
28 tn Heb “of the remnant of his inheritance.”
29 tn Heb “he does not keep hold of his anger forever.”