MIC 2:6 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) ⇔ “Don’t tell us that,”
⇔ ≈ they tell us!
⇔ “They shouldn’t preach those things—
⇔ that sort of disgrace will never happen to us.”

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX μὴ κλαίετε δάκρυσι, μηδὲ δακρυέτωσαν ἐπὶ τούτοις· οὐδὲ γὰρ ἀπώσεται ὀνείδη,
(maʸ klaiete dakrusi, maʸde dakruetōsan epi toutois; oude gar apōsetai oneidaʸ, )

BrTr Weep not with tears in the assembly of the Lord, neither let any weep for these things; for he shall not remove the reproaches,

ULT “Do not preach,”
⇔ they preach.
⇔ “They should not preach these things;
⇔ reproaches will not overtake us.”

UST The people who heard me say that replied to me,
⇔ “Do not prophesy such things!
⇔ Do not say that Yahweh is going to humiliate us by causing us to experience disasters!”

OEB ⇔ ‘“Don’t rant!” they urge, “Of such things one does not prophesy!
⇔ Shame will not overtake us!

WEBBE “Don’t prophesy!”—they prophesy—
⇔ “Don’t prophesy about these things.
⇔ Disgrace won’t overtake us.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET ‘Don’t preach with such impassioned rhetoric,’ they say excitedly.
⇔ ‘These prophets should not preach of such things;
⇔ we will not be overtaken by humiliation.’

LSV You do not prophesy—they prophesy,
They do not prophesy to these,
It does not remove shame.

FBV But you preach at me, saying,[fn] “Don't preach such things. Don't prophesy like this. Such a humiliation won't happen to us!”

2:6 Implied.

T4T The people who heard me say that replied to me,
⇔ “Do not prophesy such things!
⇔ Do not say that Yahweh is going to humiliate us by causing us to experience disasters!”

LEB • “Do not preach!” they are preaching. They should not preach to these;
• disgrace will not overtake us.

BBE Let not words like these be dropped, they say: Shame and the curse will not come to the family of Jacob!

Moff Stop it,” they cry,
⇔ “such harping is not prophecy;
⇔ no shameful fate can e’er o’ertake the house of Jacob.

JPS 'Preach ye not', they preach; 'They shall not preach of these things, that they shall not take shame.'

ASV Prophesy ye not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.

DRA Speak ye not, saying: It shall not drop upon these, confusion shall not take them.

YLT Ye do not prophesy — they do prophesy, They do not prophesy to these, It doth not remove shame.

Drby Prophesy ye not, they prophesy. If they do not prophesy to these, the ignominy will not depart.

RV Prophesy ye not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.
(Prophesy ye/you_all not, thus they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart. )

SLT Ye shall not let fall in drops; they shall let fall in drops; they shall not let fall in drops for these; shame shall not be removed.

Wbstr Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.

KJB-1769 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.[fn]
(Prophesy ye/you_all not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame. )

2.6 Prophesy ye…: or, Prophesy not as they prophesy: Heb. Drop, etc

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]Prophecie ye not, say they, to them that prophecie: they shall not prophecie to them, that they shall not take shame.
(Prophesy ye/you_all not, say they, to them that prophecie: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.)

2:6 Or, prophecie not, as they prophecie.

2:6 Heb. drop, &c.

Bshps Ye shal not prophecie say they to them that prophecie: they shal not prophecie to them, neither shall they take shame.
(Ye/You_all shall not prophesy say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, neither shall they take shame.)

Gnva They that prophecied, Prophecie ye not. They shall not prophecie to them, neither shall they take shame.
(They that prophesied, Prophesy ye/you_all not. They shall not prophesy to them, neither shall they take shame. )

Cvdl Tush, holde youre tunge (saye they) It shall not fall vpon this people, we shall not come so to confucion,
(Tush, hold your(pl) tongue (say they) It shall not fall upon this people, we shall not come so to confusion,)

Wycl A! thou Israel, speke ye not spekyng; it schal not droppe on these men, confusioun schal not catche,
(A! thou/you Israel, speak ye/you_all not speaking; it shall not drop on these men, confusion shall not catche,)

Luth Sie sagen, man solle nicht träufen; denn solche Träufe trifft uns nicht; wir werden nicht so zuschanden werden.
(They/She say, man should not drip; because/than such Träufe hits us/to_us/ourselves not; we/us become not so to_shame become.)

ClVg Ne loquamini loquentes; non stillabit super istos, non comprehendet confusio.
(Don't loquamini speaking; not/no stillabit over these, not/no will_include confusio. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–11: The LORD will punish those who oppress poor people

This section is divided into two parts: 2:1–5 and 2:6–11.

In verses 1–5, the LORD accused people in Israel of doing evil: they were dishonestly taking property away from other people. He said that he would punish them.
In verses 6–11, Micah said that people had rebuked him for prophesying these things. And the LORD again said that he would punish the people of Israel.

If you use section headings in your translation, here are some options:

Use one heading for all of 2:1–11, using the above wording. Here are some other section headings for 2:1–11:
Land Robbers Will Lose their Land (NET)
Punishment for Those Who Abuse Their Power (CEV)
Israel’s Sins Are Condemned (GW)
Use one heading for 2:1–5 and another heading for 2:6–11. For example:
^1–5Judgment against Wealthy Oppressors
^6–11True and False Prophets (NLT)
^1–5The Evil Plans of People
^6–11Micah Is Asked Not to Prophesy (NCV)
Use one heading for all of chapter 2 (2:1–13). For example:
The Fate of Those Who Oppress the Poor (GNT)
Woe to Oppressors (NASB)

TN will use one heading for 2:1–11 and another heading for 2:12–13. Use a heading or headings that will be appropriate and acceptable for your language situation.

Paragraph 2:6–11

In 2:1–2, Micah spoke about wicked people. In 2:3–5, the LORD spoke to those wicked people. Here in 2:6–11, Micah (and the LORD) continued to speak to those wicked people.

TN and most English versions begin a new paragraph at 2:6. A few versions put a section heading before 2:6. For example:

False Prophets (NIV)

Micah Is Asked Not to Prophesy (NCV)

True and False Prophets (NLT)

You can put a section heading here if you wish. But TN will use one section heading for all of 2:1–11.

2:6–7

In addition to interpretation differences that involve the wording of 2:6c, and textual issues in 2:7a and 2:7c, there are at least five differences of interpretation in the English versions that involve the quotation marks. TN will follow American usage (“…”) rather than British (‘…’) for all quotes. To minimize clutter and confusion, it will also use the BSB as the source line whenever possible, even when the quotations differ in their starting and ending points. Both the TN Notes and Display will follow the textual and interpretation recommendations in the use of quotation marks in quoted versions, regardless of the actual quotation marks found in those versions.

2:6

In 2:6, Micah quoted the words of people who did not like his message.

^6a“Do not preach,” they preach.

^6b“Do not preach these things;

^6cdisgrace will not overtake us.”

There are two main ways to interpret the identity of these people:

They were people who did not like the message of Micah or other true prophets. These were probably wicked people. For example:
^6aThe people preach at me and say, “Don’t preach at us. (GNT) (NLT, GNT)
They were prophets who did not like the message of Micah or other true prophets. They were probably false prophets. For example:
^6a“Do not prophesy,” their prophets say. (NIV) (GW, NCV, NIV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) along with a minority of commentaries.Commentaries that support interpretation (1) include UBS, WBC, JFB, and Hillers. Commentaries that support interpretation (2) include KD, ABC, NICOT, EBC, A&F, NAC, TOTC and Waltke 2007. A reference to people in general would also include false prophets. Versions that are not listed under the above two interpretations use general words such as “you,” “one,” or “they.” In your translation, it is recommended that you use a general word like one of these. If that is not suitable for your language, then use a phrase such as “people” or “some people.”

2:6a

“Do not preach,” they preach.

¶ “Stop preaching!” That is what they/people preach to me.
¶ Here is the message that some people preach/announce to me: “Do not preach/announce that message to us^(excl).

“Do not preach,” they preach: Micah here quoted words that were spoken by people who did not like his message. When these people said this, they themselves were preaching.In Hebrew, the command “Do not preach” is plural. When the people said this to Micah, they included other prophets and their disciples as well. For example, Isaiah and Hosea lived at the same time as Micah. They also said that God would punish the Jewish people (TOTC).

preach: In Hebrew, this word for preach occurs three times in this verse. It literally means “drip.” Here it means “to prophesy, preach, proclaim a message.”The NJB translates this command as “Do not drivel.” No other versions have similar renderings. A footnote in the NET says: Heb “‘Do not foam at the mouth,’…” The verb (nataf) means “to drip.” When used of speech it probably has the nuance “to drivel, to foam at the mouth” (HALOT 694). The sinful people tell the LORD’s prophets not to “foam at the mouth.” This “probably refers in a derogatory way to their impassioned style of delivery.” Waltke 2007 and Hillers both say that the word may have the connotation of contempt, but other commentaries disagree. According to EBC (page 512), the primary meaning of the verb is “to drip.” It is a “figure used for words issuing from the lips. It predominantly describes prophetic speech. A&F (pages 302–303) give the most complete defense of the often neutral and even positive connotation of words that “drip from the lips.” According to them, “the connotation in Micah is undetermined, and the nuance of ‘rant’ or ‘dribble’ in frenzy is not called for.”

There are at least two ways you can translate this command:

Use a specific term in your language for “prophesy,” “preach,” or “proclaim a message.” For example:
“Stop preaching!” they preach. “That’s no way to preach… (NJPS)
“Don’t prophesy to us! Don’t prophesy about these things!… (NCV)
“Do not proclaim/announce a message like that…
Use a general term, such as “speak about.” For example:
“Don’t say such things,” the people respond. “Don’t prophesy like that… (NLT)
“Don’t talk about those things to us^(excl)…

Notice that the NLT uses a general term for the first command and a specific term for the second. If your language uses a phrase like “speak God’s words” or “proclaim God’s message” to translate “preach” or “prophesy,” consider using a different phrase here. Micah’s opponents did not believe that Micah’s message was truly from the LORD.

they preach: If it is more natural in your language, you may want to put this phrase first in the sentence. For example:

The people preach at me and say, “Don’t preach at us… (GNT)

2:6b

“Do not preach these things;

“No one should preach about those things.
It is not good to preach/announce that Yahweh will do those bad things to our^(incl) people.

Do not preach these things: In Hebrew, this statement is third-person plural, “They…” It is probably a general statement, meaning “People should not preach about such things.” There are two ways you can translate this statement:

Use a general statement. Here are some other examples:
“people should not preach of such things…
“it is not fitting to talk about these things…
Use a command. For example:
“Do not prophesy about these things… (NIV)
Don’t preach about all that… (GNT)

Use what is natural in your language.

these things: This phrase refers to the things Micah had talked about since the beginning of the book. He had prophesied that the LORD would destroy the city of Samaria (1:6–7) and that an enemy army would attack cities in Judah and send many people into exile (1:10–16). He had rebuked the people for their wicked ways and prophesied that the LORD would punish them by taking away their land (2:1–5). But many people did not like to hear Micah speak about these things.

2:6c

disgrace will not overtake us.”

Those terrible/shameful things will never happen to us^(incl)!”
Yahweh will never shame us like that.”

disgrace will not overtake us: In Hebrew, the word disgrace is plural.The situation is actually more complicated. The NAB has “The shame will not withdraw.” Other versions, such as the NIV, NJB, and NRSV, also use a singular noun (“disgrace”), but have “…will not overtake us.” In Hebrew, the noun is feminine plural (“disgraces”). The NLT follows this approach with “Such disasters…” The NASB, KJV and REB follow other minor interpretations. To avoid unnecessary complexity, the Notes will not discuss them. It probably refers to the bad things that happen that cause people to feel shame. Here are some other ways to translate 2:6c:

Nothing to make us feel bad will happen!” (NCV)

Such disasters will never come our way!” (NLT)

God is not going to disgrace us.” (GNT)

us: The pronoun us probably refers to the people as a whole. Micah’s opponents believed that the LORD would never disgrace the Jewish people by punishing them. If your language distinguishes inclusive and exclusive pronouns, you should probably use inclusive forms here.

Parallel MIC 2:6