Micah 1:1

Introduction

1:1 This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to ¹  Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message ²  during the reigns of ³  Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to ⁴  Samaria ⁵  and Jerusalem. ⁶ 

Micah 5:15

5:15 I will angrily seek vengeance

on the nations that do not obey me.” ⁷ 

Micah 6:12

6:12 The city’s rich men think nothing of resorting to violence; ⁸ 

her inhabitants lie, ⁹ 

their tongues speak deceptive words. ¹⁰ 

Micah 7:20

7:20 You will be loyal to Jacob

and extend your loyal love to Abraham, ¹¹ 

which you promised on oath to our ancestors ¹² 

in ancient times. ¹³ 

Micah 6:1

The Lord Demands Justice, not Ritual

6:1 Listen to what the Lord says:

“Get up! Defend yourself ¹⁴  before the mountains! ¹⁵ 

Present your case before the hills!” ¹⁶ 

Micah 7:9

7:9 I must endure ¹⁷  the Lord’s anger,

for I have sinned against him.

But then ¹⁸  he will defend my cause, ¹⁹ 

and accomplish justice on my behalf.

He will lead me out into the light;

I will experience firsthand ²⁰  his deliverance. ²¹ 

Micah 2:3

2:3 Therefore the Lord says this: “Look, I am devising disaster for this nation! ²² 

It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck. ²³ 

You will no longer ²⁴  walk proudly,

for it will be a time of catastrophe.

Micah 5:7-8

5:7 Those survivors from ²⁵  Jacob will live ²⁶ 

in the midst of many nations. ²⁷ 

They will be like the dew the Lord sends,

like the rain on the grass,

that does not hope for men to come

or wait around for humans to arrive. ²⁸ 

5:8 Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples.

They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,

like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,

which attacks when it passes through;

it rips its prey ²⁹  and there is no one to stop it. ³⁰ 

[1:1]  ¹ tn Heb “The word of the Lord which came to.”

[1:1]  ² tn The words “he delivered this message” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[1:1]  ³ tn Heb “in the days of” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV).

[1:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “which he saw concerning.”

[1:1]  ⁵ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[1:1]  ⁶ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[5:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “I will accomplish in anger and in rage, vengeance on the nations who do not listen.”

[6:12]  ¹³ tn Heb “because her rich are full of violence.”

[6:12]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “speak lies.”

[6:12]  ¹⁵ tn Heb “and their tongue is deceptive in their mouth.”

[7:20]  ¹⁹ tn More literally, “You will extend loyalty to Jacob, and loyal love to Abraham.

[7:20]  ²⁰ tn Heb “our fathers.” The Hebrew term refers here to more distant ancestors, not immediate parents.

[7:20]  ²¹ tn Heb “which you swore [or, “pledged”] to our fathers from days of old.”

[6:1]  ²⁵ tn Or “plead your case” (NASB, NIV, NRSV); NAB “present your plea”; NLT “state your case.”

[6:1]  ²⁶ sn As in some ancient Near Eastern treaties, the mountains are personified as legal witnesses that will settle the dispute between God and Israel.

[6:1]  ²⁷ tn Heb “let the hills hear your voice.”

[7:9]  ³¹ tn Heb “lift, bear.”

[7:9]  ³² tn Heb “until.”

[7:9]  ³³ tn Or “plead my case” (NASB and NIV both similar); NRSV “until he takes my side.”

[7:9]  ³⁴ tn Heb “see.”

[7:9]  ³⁵ tn Or “justice, vindication.”

[2:3]  ³⁷ tn Heb “clan” or “extended family.”

[2:3]  ³⁸ tn Heb “from which you will not remove your neck.” The words “It will be like a yoke” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[2:3]  ³⁹ tn Or “you will not.”

[5:7]  ⁴³ tn Heb “the remnant of” (also in v. 8).

[5:7]  ⁴⁴ tn Heb “will be.”

[5:7]  ⁴⁵ tn This could mean “(scattered) among the nations” (cf. CEV, NLT) or “surrounded by many nations” (cf. NRSV).

[5:7]  ⁴⁶ tn Heb “that does not hope for man, and does not wait for the sons of men.”

[5:8]  ⁴⁹ tn The words “its prey” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:8]  ⁵⁰ tn Heb “and there is no deliverer.”