Micah 3:8

3:8 But I ¹  am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives,

and have a strong commitment to justice. ² 

This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion,

and Israel with its sin. ³ 

Micah 5:1

5:1 (4:14) ⁴  But now slash yourself, ⁵  daughter surrounded by soldiers! ⁶ 

We are besieged!

With a scepter ⁷  they strike Israel’s ruler ⁸ 

on the side of his face.

Micah 7:8

Jerusalem Will Be Vindicated

7:8 My enemies, ⁹  do not gloat ¹⁰  over me!

Though I have fallen, I will get up.

Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. ¹¹ 

[3:8]  ¹ sn The prophet Micah speaks here and contrasts himself with the mercenaries just denounced by the Lord in the preceding verses.

[3:8]  ² tn Heb “am full of power, the Spirit of the Lord, and justice and strength.” The appositional phrase “the Spirit of the Lord” explains the source of the prophet’s power. The phrase “justice and strength” is understood here as a hendiadys, referring to the prophet’s strong sense of justice.

[3:8]  ³ 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.

[5:1]  ⁴ 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]  ⁵ 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]  ⁶ tn Heb “daughter of a troop of warriors.”

[5:1]  ⁷ tn Or “staff”; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT “rod”; CEV “stick”; NCV “club.”

[5:1]  ⁸ tn Traditionally, “the judge of Israel” (so KJV, NASB).

[7:8]  ⁷ tn The singular form is understood as collective.

[7:8]  ⁸ tn Or “rejoice” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NRSV); NCV “don’t laugh at me.”

[7:8]  ⁹ sn Darkness represents judgment; light (also in v. 9) symbolizes deliverance. The Lord is the source of the latter.