Open English Translation MIC Chapter 4

4 In the last days it’ll come about

that the mountain where Yahweh’s residence is

will become more important than other mountains.

Then it’ll be lifted above the hills,

and peoples will stream to it.

2 Many nations will go and say,

“Come, let’s go up to Yahweh’s mountain,

≈ to the house of the Ya’akov’s (Jacob) god

so that he will teach us his ways,

≈ and we will walk on his paths.”

Because the law will go out from Tsiyon (Zion),

≈ and Yahweh’s message from Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

3 He’ll judge among many peoples

≈ and will arbitrate for strong countries far away.

They’ll beat their swords into plough blades

≈ and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nations won’t attack other nations,

≈ nor will they train for war any longer.

4 Then every person will be able to sit under their grapevine

≈ and under their fig tree.

No one will make them afraid,[ref]

because Commander-in-chief Yahweh has spoken.

5 All various people groups follow their own god,

≈ but we will obey our god Yahweh’s instructions

forever and ever.

6 Yahweh declares: “At that time, I’ll gather the lame people

≈ and assemble those who were scattered—those who I’ve done harm to.

7 And I will turn those lame people into a growing group,

≈ and those scattered ones into a strong nation,

and Yahweh will reign over them on Mt. Tsiyon (Zion),

from now and until forever.

8 And you, watchtower for the flock,

hill of the daughter of Tsiyon—

to you it will come—your former dominion will arrive—

the kingdom that belongs to the daughter of Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

9 Now, why do you shout so loudly?

Is it because you don’t have a king?

≈ Is it because your advisor passed away

that pain’s gripping you like that of a woman in labour.

10 Be in pain and labour daughter of Tsiyon,

≈ like a woman giving birth.

For now, you need to go out of the city

≈ and live in the countryside.

Then you’ll go to Bavel (Babylon) and be rescued from there.

≈ There Yahweh will redeem you from your enemies’ control.

11 Now many nations have assembled against you.

They say, ‘Let her be overrun.

Let our eyes gloat over Tsiyon’s fall.’

12 But those enemies don’t know Yahweh’s thoughts,

≈ and they don’t understand his plans,

because he’s gathered them up like bundles of grain ready to be broken on the threshing floor.

13 Get going and thresh, daughter of Tsiyon,

because I’ll make your horn into iron,

≈ and I’ll make your hooves into bronze.

And you’ll break many peoples into pieces

and you’ll confiscate their unjust earnings to devote to Yahweh—

≈ their wealth will be for the master of the whole world.”