3:4 Someday these sinners will cry to the Lord for help, 1
but he will not answer them.
He will hide his face from them at that time,
because they have done such wicked deeds.”
6:1 Listen to what the Lord says:
“Get up! Defend yourself 2 before the mountains! 3
Present your case before the hills!” 4
6:14 You will eat, but not be satisfied.
Even if you have the strength 5 to overtake some prey, 6
you will not be able to carry it away; 7
if you do happen to carry away something,
I will deliver it over to the sword.
7:9 I must endure 8 the Lord’s anger,
for I have sinned against him.
But then 9 he will defend my cause, 10
and accomplish justice on my behalf.
He will lead me out into the light;
I will experience firsthand 11 his deliverance. 12
1 tn Heb “then they will cry out to the
2 tn Or “plead your case” (NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “present your plea”; NLT “state your case.”
3 sn As in some ancient Near Eastern treaties, the mountains are personified as legal witnesses that will settle the dispute between God and Israel.
4 tn Heb “let the hills hear your voice.”
3 tc The first Hebrew term in the line (וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ, vÿyeshkhakha) is obscure. HALOT 446 s.v. יֶשַׁח understands a noun meaning “filth,” which would yield the translation, “and your filth is inside you.” The translation assumes an emendation to כֹּחַ-וְיֶשׁ (vÿyesh-koakh, “and [if] there is strength inside you”).
4 tn The meaning of the Hebrew term וְתַסֵּג (vÿtasseg) is unclear. The translation assumes it is a Hiphal imperfect from נָסַג/נָשַׂג (nasag/nasag, “reach; overtake”) and that hunting imagery is employed. (Note the reference to hunger in the first line of the verse.) See D. R. Hillers, Micah (Hermeneia), 80.
5 tn The Hiphal of פָּלַט (palat) is used in Isa 5:29 of an animal carrying its prey to a secure place.
4 tn Heb “lift, bear.”
5 tn Heb “until.”
6 tn Or “plead my case” (NASB and NIV both similar); NRSV “until he takes my side.”
7 tn Heb “see.”
8 tn Or “justice, vindication.”