MIC 6:2 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=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
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 Ἀκούσατε ὄρη τὴν κρίσιν τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ αἱ φάραγγες θεμέλια τῆς γῆς, ὅτι κρίσις τῷ Κυρίῳ πρὸς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ μετὰ τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ διελεγχθήσεται.
(Akousate oraʸ taʸn krisin tou Kuriou, kai hai faranges themelia taʸs gaʸs, hoti krisis tōi Kuriōi pros ton laon autou, kai meta tou Israaʸl dielegⱪthaʸsetai. )

BrTr Hear ye, O mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and ye valleys even the foundations of the earth: for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and will plead with Israel.

ULT Listen to Yahweh’s lawsuit, you mountains,
⇔ and you enduring foundations of the earth.
⇔ For Yahweh has a lawsuit with his people,
⇔ and he will fight in court against Israel.”

UST The mountains must listen carefully to what Yahweh says about his people, so they can be witnesses.
⇔ Indeed, Yahweh has many things to accuse his people Israel about.

OEB Hear, mountains, the Lord’s accusation,
⇔ listen, foundations of the earth.
⇔ For the Lord has a case against his people.
⇔ He has a dispute with Israel.

WEBBE Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s indictment,
⇔ and you enduring foundations of the earth;
⇔ for the LORD has a case against his people,
⇔ and he will contend with Israel.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Hear the Lord’s accusation, you mountains,
⇔ you enduring foundations of the earth!
⇔ For the Lord has a case against his people;
⇔ he has a dispute with Israel!

LSV Hear, O mountains, the strife of YHWH,
You strong ones—foundations of earth! For a strife [is] to YHWH, with His people,
And with Israel He reasons.

FBV And now, mountains, hear the Lord's argument. Listen, everlasting foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel.

T4T But then you mountains must also listen carefully [DOU] to what I, Yahweh, am complaining about my people.
⇔ I have something to say about what [DOU] my Israeli people are doing that displeases me.

LEB • Hear, O mountains, the indictment of Yahweh, and you eternal foundations of the earth,
• for Yahweh has an indictment against his people,
• and against Israel he contends.

BBE Give ear, O you mountains, to the Lord's cause, and take note, you bases of the earth: for the Lord has a cause against his people, and he will take it up with Israel.

Moff Listen to the Eternal’s charge, O mountains,
⇔ hear it, O foundations of the earth;
⇔ for the Eternal arraigns his people,
⇔ and indicts Israel.

JPS Hear, O ye mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye enduring rocks, the foundations of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with His people, and He will plead with Israel.

ASV Hear, O ye mountains, Jehovah’s controversy, and ye enduring foundations of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.

DRA Let the mountains hear the judgment of the Lord, and the strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord will enter into judgment with his people, and he will plead against Israel.

YLT Hear, O mountains, the strife of Jehovah, Ye strong ones — foundations of earth! For a strife [is] to Jehovah, with His people, And with Israel He doth reason.

Drby Hear, ye mountains, Jehovah's controversy, and ye, unchanging foundations of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

RV Hear, O ye mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye enduring foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
(Hear, Oh ye/you_all mountains, the LORD’S controversy, and ye/you_all enduring foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath/has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. )

SLT Hear ye mountains the contention of Jehovah, and ye perpetual foundations of the earth: for a contention to Jehovah with his people, and he will dispute with Israel.

Wbstr Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

KJB-1769 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
(Hear ye/you_all, Oh mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye/you_all strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath/has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. )

KJB-1611 Heare yee, O mountaines, the LORDs controuersie, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controuersie with his people, and he will pleade with Israel.
(Hear ye/you_all, Oh mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye/you_all strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath/has a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.)

Bshps Heare O ye mountaines the Lordes quarel, and ye mightie foundations of the earth: for the Lorde hath a quarell against his people, and wyll pleade with Israel.
(Hear Oh ye/you_all mountains the Lords quarel, and ye/you_all mighty foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath/has a quarrel against his people, and will plead with Israel.)

Gnva Heare ye, O mountaynes, the Lordes quarel, and ye mightie foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a quarell against his people, and he will pleade with Israel.
(Hear ye/you_all, Oh mountains, the Lords quarel, and ye/you_all mighty foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath/has a quarrel against his people, and he will plead with Israel. )

Cvdl O Heare the punyshment of the LORDE, ye mountaynes, and ye mightie foundacios of ye earth: for the LORDE wil reproue his people, ad reason with Israel:
(Oh Hear the punishment of the LORD, ye/you_all mountains, and ye/you_all mighty foundations of ye/you_all earth: for the LORD will reprove his people, and reason with Israel:)

Wycl Mounteyns, and the stronge foundementis of erthe, here the doom of the Lord; for the doom of the Lord with his puple, and he schal be demyd with Israel.
(Mountains, and the strong foundations of earth, here the judgement of the Lord; for the judgement of the Lord with his people, and he shall be demyd with Israel.)

Luth Höret, ihr Berge, wie der HErr strafen will, samt den starken Grundfesten der Erde! Denn der HErr will sein Volk schelten und will Israel strafen.
(Hear, you(pl)/their/her mountains/hills, as/like the/of_the LORD punish will, together_with the strengthen foundations the/of_the earth/land/ground! Because the/of_the LORD will be people scold and will Israel punish.)

ClVg Audiant montes judicium Domini, et fortia fundamenta terræ; quia judicium Domini cum populo suo, et cum Israël dijudicabitur.
(Listenant mountains judgement Master, and bravea foundations of_the_earth/land; because judgement Master when/with to_the_people his_own, and when/with Israel diyudicabitur. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 6:1–8: The LORD brought a lawsuit against his people

In this section, the LORD (speaking through Micah) conducted a lawsuit or a court trial against the people of Israel. The LORD accused the people of Israel of failing to keep his requirements. Some scholars refer to this accusation as a “covenant lawsuit” because his requirements were based on his covenant with Israel.For example, ZIBBC (pages 140–141), Hays (page 315), and CBC (page 334). Scholars point out, however, that this lawsuit was not conventional in some ways. For example, there was no judge, the witnesses were silent, and there was no pronouncement of punishment.ZIBBC (pages 140–141) and A&F (page 513).

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Lord’s case against Israel (NIV)

God Challenges Israel (NRSV)

Paragraph 6:1–2

The lawsuit/trial began with these verses. Micah called on the people to hear the LORD’s case against them and called on the mountains/hills to be witnesses.

6:2a–b

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^2a“Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,

^2b you enduring foundations of the earth.

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 6:2b. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 6:2a. For example:

^2b hear you enduring foundations of the earth the LORD’s indictment.

In these parallel lines, Micah began conducting the case of the LORD against Israel. He first called/summoned the mountains and the foundations of the earth to be witnesses in the case.

6:2a

Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,

O mountains, hear Yahweh’s case.
So listen as witnesses in Yahweh’s lawsuit, you^(plur) mountains

Hear: This is the same Hebrew word as in 6:1a.

O mountains: Here Micah addressed the mountains directly, as if they could hear and understand him. Some versions have added the word “you” or O to make it clear that O mountains, is a term of address (vocative).

Use a term of address (vocative) that is natural in your language when a person speaks to a group of listeners. In some languages, it may be helpful to use a simile here. For example:

Mountains, I call on you as witnesses to listen to the accusation of the LORD.

the LORD’s indictment: In Hebrew, the word for indictment is a form of the same word as “plead my case” in 6:1b. See the note there for more detail.

6:2b

you enduring foundations of the earth.

Listen, you^(plur) firm foundations of the earth,
that hold up the earth.

you enduring foundations of the earth: This phrase may refer to the bottoms of the mountains.NAC (page 109). It indicates the very old, unchanging parts of the land that had witnessed Israel’s entire history.UBS (page 226) and EBC (page 538).

Here are some other examples:

You firm foundations of the earth! (NJPS)

Listen, you strong foundations of the earth. (GW)

Micah addressed the enduring foundations of the earth directly. For more information on how to translate the vocative you see “O mountains” in 6:2a.

6:2c

For the LORD has a case against His people,

because Yahweh has a dispute with his people Israel,
Yahweh has an accusation to bring against his people.

6:2d

and He will argue it against Israel:

and he will now argue his case against them.
He will prosecute Israel for its/her crimes.

6:2c–d

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^2cFor the LORD has a case against his people,

^2dand He will argue it against Israel:

These lines give the reason why Micah asked the mountains and foundations of the earth to hear. The reason was to hear the lawsuit.

For: This word introduces a reason.

Here are some ways to introduce this clause:

Use a conjunction such as For or “because.” For example:
because the Lord has a case against His people (NASB)
Leave implied that the clause is a reason. For example:
The Lord has a case against his people. (GNT)

Use a natural way in your language to introduce a reason.

has a case against…will argue it against: These parallel phrases are very similar in meaning. The word case against means an “argument.” Here both phrases refer to the legal case that the LORD (through Micah) was about to argue against the people of Israel.

Here are some other ways to translate these phrases:

He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. (NLT)

The Lord has a legal case against his people, and he will accuse Israel. (NCV)

The Lord has filed a lawsuit against his people. He is arguing his case against Israel. (GW)

against His people…Israel: Here the word against introduces the defendants in the case.Waltke 2007 (page 348 citing Renaud La Formation, page 292). The defendants in the LORD’s case were his people, Israel.

Both of the terms His people and Israel refer to the people of Israel. However, Micah may have used the phrase His people to remind them that they were obligated to live according to their covenant with the LORD. The phrase may also indicate that the LORD had the right to make this case against them.KD (page 333).

Parallel MIC 6:2