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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mic 7 V1 V2 V3 V4 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20
OET (OET-LV) Do_not believe in_a_neighbour do_not trust in_a_close_friend from_the_woman_who_lies_of your_bosom_of_your guard the_openings_of your_mouth_of_your.
OET (OET-RV) Don’t trust any neighbour.
⇔ ≈ Put no confidence in any friend.
⇔ Be careful about what you say
⇔ even to the woman who lies in your arms,
This section is a lament of Micah that expresses his sorrow about the lack of righteous people in the land. In 7:1–6, he talked about the wickedness of the people using a combination of figures of speech and direct speech. In 7:7, he concluded the lament by expressing his own hope in the LORD.
Some scholars and versions place 7:7 in the next section. However, expressions of both sorrow and hope are features in some other laments, such as in the Psalms.Psalm 55 is one example. NICOT (pages 383–385). Also, both 7:1 and 7:7 have first-person pronouns and verbs that enclose third-person descriptions in 7:2–6. This change of word forms probably indicates the start and end of the lament.UBS (pages 244–256).
Here are some other examples of section headings:
The Total Corruption of the People (NRSV)
Israel’s Misery (NIV)
Misery Turned to Hope (NLT)
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning (these lines are from the RSV):
5a Put no trust in a neighbor,
5b have no confidence in a friend;
5c guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom;
In these lines, Micah warns the people to trust no one. He gives this warning in three parallel clauses. The degree of closeness to the other person increases in each clause.
The RSV has been used as the source line for 7:5a–c, because it better follows the word choices in most versions.
Do not rely on a friend;
Do not trust your neighbor,
Do not believe what people tell you,
(RSV) Put no trust in a neighbor: In Hebrew, the word trust can also mean “believe,” “have confidence,” or “rely” on another person.Mounce (page 896) and Waltke 2007 (page 42). In Hebrew, the word neighbor can also mean “associate,” “companion,” or “friend.”Mounce (page 1042). It indicates a low level relationship with another person. They know each other to some extent, but they are not close friends.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
Don’t trust anyone (CEV)
Don’t believe your neighbor (GNT)
do not trust in a companion.
or rely on your friend.
not even a close friend.
(RSV) have no confidence in a friend: In Hebrew, the word confidence can also mean “trust,” “have confidence,” or “rely” on another person. This word is very similar in meaning to the Hebrew word for “trust” in 5a.Mounce (page 904). In Hebrew, the word friend means “close friend,” “partner,” “ally,” or “companion.”Mounce (page 894). It indicates a stronger relationship with another person than the word “neighbor.” They know each other fairly well and are close friends.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
not even your best friend (CEV)
or trust your friend (GNT)
Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
Be cautious about what you(sing) share with the one who lies in your arms.
Take care what you(plur) make known even to your wives.
(RSV) guard the doors of your In Hebrew, the addressee alternates between plural in 5:a-b and singular in 5c. However, the same group of people is addressed in both places. Waltke 2007 (page 422) notes that the alternation between plural and singular is acceptable Hebrew. In many languages, it will be more natural to translate this pronoun as “your(pl).” mouth from her who lies in your bosom: In Hebrew, the phrase guard the doors of your mouth is a figure of speech that means to be careful not to say something that will put you in danger.Waltke 2007 (page 422) and UBS (pages 247–248).
In Hebrew, the word bosom refers to the part of the body between the arms. The phrase her who lies in your bosom is a way to say “your wife.”BDB #2436 (page 300), JFB (page 695), and Waltke 2007 (page 422). This warning indicates the most intimate kind of relationship.
Here are some other ways to translate this line:
Don’t even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms! (NET)
Be careful what you say even to your husband or wife. (GNT)
(Occurrence 0) Do not trust any neighbor
(Some words not found in UHB: not trust in,a_neighbor no have_~_confidence in,a_close_friend from,[the_woman_who]_lies_of your_bosom_of,your guard doors_of your_mouth_of,your )
Micah continues to show that there is no longer anyone good, honest, and loyal to God among God’s people. Here he emphasizes that they cannot even trust friends or family.
7:1-20 Hopeless deception and corruption permeated God’s people (7:1-6); God’s mercy, however, would triumph and Israel would be restored (7:11-13). God’s mercy, compassion, and unfailing love would prevail (7:14-20). Micah mourned his people’s condition and looked to the Lord for help (7:7-10).
OET (OET-LV) Do_not believe in_a_neighbour do_not trust in_a_close_friend from_the_woman_who_lies_of your_bosom_of_your guard the_openings_of your_mouth_of_your.
OET (OET-RV) Don’t trust any neighbour.
⇔ ≈ Put no confidence in any friend.
⇔ Be careful about what you say
⇔ even to the woman who lies in your arms,
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.