Micah 3:4

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.”

Micah 5:1

5:1 (4:14) ²  But now slash yourself, ³  daughter surrounded by soldiers! ⁴ 

We are besieged!

With a scepter ⁵  they strike Israel’s ruler ⁶ 

on the side of his face.

Micah 3:7

3:7 The prophets ⁷  will be ashamed;

the omen readers will be humiliated.

All of them will cover their mouths, ⁸ 

for they will receive no divine oracles.” ⁹ 

[3:4]  ¹ tn Heb “then they will cry out to the Lord.” The words “Someday these sinners” have been supplied in the translation for clarification.

[5:1]  ² sn Beginning with 5:1, the verse numbers through 5:15 in the English Bible differ by one from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 5:1 ET = 4:14 HT, 5:2 ET = 5:1 HT, 5:3 ET = 5:2 HT, etc., through 5:15 ET = 5:14 HT. From 6:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same.

[5:1]  ³ tn The Hebrew verb גָדַד (gadad) can be translated “slash yourself” or “gather in troops.” A number of English translations are based on the latter meaning (e.g., NASB, NIV, NLT).

[5:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “daughter of a troop of warriors.”

[5:1]  ⁵ tn Or “staff”; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “rod”; CEV “stick”; NCV “club.”

[5:1]  ⁶ tn Traditionally, “the judge of Israel” (so KJV, NASB).

[3:7]  ³ tn Or “seers.”

[3:7]  ⁴ tn Or “the mustache,” or perhaps “the beard.” Cf. KJV, NAB, NRSV “cover their lips.”

[3:7]  ⁵ tn Heb “for there will be no answer from God.”