\NormalFont\ShortTitle{MICAH}
{\MTB This book contains the account of Micah foretelling about God punishing Israel and Judah because of their evil leaders, and about restoring them by the leader coming from Bethlehem. We call this book
\par }{\MT Micah

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}{\ADD{
I
am}}
Micah.
I
am
from
{\ADD{
the
town
of}}
Moresheth
{\ADD{
in
Judah}}.
Yahweh
gave
me
these
{\ADD{
messages
in}}
visions
about
Samaria
and
Jerusalem
during
the
time
when
Jotham,
{\ADD{
and
then}}
Ahaz,
and
{\ADD{
then}}
Hezekiah,
were
the
kings
of
Judah.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
punish
Samaria
\par }{\Q \VS{2}You
people
everywhere
on
the
earth,
pay
attention
to
this [DOU]!
\par }{\QB Yahweh
our
God
is
accusing
you
from
his
holy
temple
{\ADD{
in
heaven}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}He
will
come
down
{\ADD{
from
heaven}}
\par }{\QB and
walk
on
the
tops
of
the
highest
mountains.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{
It
will
be
as
though}}
the
mountains
will
melt
under
his
{\ADD{
feet}}
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
wax
{\ADD{
melts}}
in
front
of
a
fire,
\par }{\Q and
like [SIM]
water
{\ADD{
disappears}}
\par }{\QB when
it
rushes/flows
down
into
a
valley.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Those
things
will
happen
because
of
the
terrible
sins [DOU]
that
the
people [MTY]
of
Israel,
{\ADD{
the
descendants
of}}
Jacob,
have
committed.
\par }{\QB But
it
was [RHQ]
{\ADD{
the
people
of}}
Samaria
{\ADD{
city
who
persuaded
all
the
people
of}}
Israel
to
sin,
\par }{\Q and
it
was [RHQ]
because
the
people
of
Jerusalem
{\ADD{
set
up
altars
to
worship
their
gods}}
\par }{\QB that
{\ADD{
the
other
people
of}}
Judah
{\ADD{
were
persuaded
to
worship
idols
on}}
their hilltops.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}So
Yahweh
will
cause
Samaria
to
become
a
heap
{\ADD{
of
rubble/ruins}};
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
will
be
only}}
a
field
for
planting
vineyards.
\par }{\Q He
will
cause
the
stones
of
its
{\ADD{
buildings}}
to
roll
down
into
the
valley,
\par }{\QB and
the
foundations
{\ADD{
of
the
buildings}}
will
be
uncovered.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}All
the
idols
in
Samaria
will
be
smashed,
\par }{\QB and
the
gifts
{\ADD{
given
to
prostitutes
at
the
temples
of
their
idols}}
will
be
destroyed
in
a
fire.
\par }{\Q And
because
people
paid
prostitutes
there,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
their
enemies
will
take
away
those
idols
and
sell
them}}
to
get
money
to
pay
to
prostitutes
{\ADD{
in
other
countries}}.
\par }{\SH Micah
mourned
for
Judah
also
\par }{\Q \VS{8}Because
{\ADD{
Samaria
will
be
destroyed}},
I
will
weep
and
wail.
\par }{\QB I
will
walk
around ◄barefoot/without
any
sandals
on
my
feet►
and
naked.
\par }{\Q I
will
howl
like
a jackal/wolf
\par }{\QB and screech
like
an
owl,
\par }{\Q \VS{9}because
Samaria
will
be
completely
destroyed [MET];
\par }{\QB nothing
can
save
that
city.
\par }{\Q But
the
same
thing
will
happen
to
Judah!
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
It
is
as
though
the
enemy
army}}
has
{\ADD{
already}}
reached
the
city
gates
of
Jerusalem,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
the
main
city
where}}
my
people
{\ADD{
live}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Do
not
tell
that
to
{\ADD{
our
enemies}}
in
Gath
{\ADD{
city
in
Philistia}}!
\par }{\QB Do
not
cry,
{\ADD{
lest
the
people
there
find
out
what
is happening}}!!
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Instead,
just}}
roll
in
the
dirt
in Beth-Leaphrah
{\ADD{
because
the
name
of
that
town
means ‘house
of
dust}}.’
\par }{\Q \VS{11}You
people
who
live
in
Shaphir
{\ADD{
town,
whose
name
means ‘beautiful}},’
\par }{\QB naked
and
ashamed,
you
will
be
taken
{\ADD{
to
another
country}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
You
people
in}}
Beth-Ezel
{\ADD{
town}}
should
mourn,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because}}
no
one
from
Zaanan
{\ADD{
town,
whose
name
means ‘one
who
goes
out}},’
will
go
out
to
help
you.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
The
name
of}}
Maroth
{\ADD{
town
sounds
like ‘bitterness}};’
\par }{\QB everyone
there
is
anxiously
waiting
for
good
things
to
happen
to
them,
\par }{\Q but
good
things
will
not
happen
to
them;
\par }{\QB instead,
terrible
things
are
about
to
happen
to
them,
\par }{\QB and
it
will
soon
happen
at
the
gates
of
Jerusalem.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}You
people
of
Lachish
{\ADD{
city,
whose
name
sounds
like ‘team}},’
\par }{\QB hitch
your
horses
to
pull
the
chariots
{\ADD{
in
which
you
can
ride
to
flee
from
your
enemies}}.
\par }{\Q The Israeli
people
rebelled
against
Yahweh,
\par }{\QB and
you ◄imitated
them/did
the
same
evil
things
that
they
did►,
\par }{\Q and
that
caused
the
people
of
Jerusalem [IDM]
to
start
sinning,
too.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
You
people
of
Judah}},
send
a
farewell
gift
to
{\ADD{
the
people}}
of
Moresheth
{\ADD{
town}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because
their
enemies
will
soon
destroy
it}}.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The
name
of
the
town
Aczib
means ‘deception}},’
\par }{\QB and
the
kings
of
Israel
{\ADD{
will
soon
find
out
that
the
people
of
that
town}}
will
deceive
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}{\ADD{
The
name
of
your
town
of}}
Mareshah
{\ADD{
means ‘conqueror}},’
\par }{\QB and
Yahweh
will
{\ADD{
soon}}
send
someone
to
conquer
your
town.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
will
be
necessary
for}}
the
great/glorious
leaders
of
Israel
to
go
{\ADD{
and
hide
in
the
cave
at}}
Adullam
{\ADD{
city}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{
You
people
of
Judah}},
shave
your
heads
{\ADD{
while
you
will
be
mourning}},
\par }{\QB because
your
children
whom
you
love
will
{\ADD{
soon}}
be ◄exiled/forced
to
leave
you
and
go
to
another
country►.

\par }\Chap{2}{\SH Yahweh will punish those who oppress the poor
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}Terrible
things
will
happen
to
you
who
lie
awake
at
night,
\par }{\QB planning
to
do
wicked
things.
\par }{\Q You
get
up
at
dawn,
and
you
do
those
things,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
as
soon
as}}
you
are
able
to
do
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}You
want
fields
{\ADD{
that
belong
to
other
people}},
\par }{\QB so
you
seize
them;
\par }{\QB you
also
take
their
houses.
\par }{\Q You
cheat
people
to
get
their
homes,
\par }{\QB taking
away
the
property
that
belongs
to
their
families.
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Therefore,
this
is
what
Yahweh
says:
\par }{\Q “I
will
cause
you
people
to
experience
disasters,
\par }{\QB and
you
will
not
be
able
to
escape [MTY]
from
them.
\par }{\Q You
will
no
{\ADD{
longer}}
walk
around
proudly,
\par }{\QB because
when
those
things
happen,
it
will
be
a
time
of
much
trouble
for
you.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}At
that
time,
{\ADD{
your
enemies}}
will
make fun
of
you;
\par }{\QB they
will
ridicule
you
by
singing
this
sad
song
about
you:
\par }{\Q ‘We
are
completely
ruined;
\par }{\QB Yahweh
is
taking
our
land/fields
from
us,
\par }{\Q and
he
will
give
it
to
those
who
will
capture
us.’ ”
\par }{\Q \VS{5}So
{\ADD{
when
it
is
the
time
for
the
land
to
be
given
back
to
you}}
people
who
belong
to
Yahweh,
\par }{\QB there
will
be
no
one [MTY]
who
will
be
able
to ◄cast
lots/throw
marked
stones►
to
determine
which
land
belongs
to
whom.
\par }{\SH False
prophets
\par }{\Q \VS{6}The
people
{\ADD{
who
heard
me
say
that}}
replied
to
me,
\par }{\QB “Do
not
prophesy
such
things!
\par }{\QB Do
not
say
that
{\ADD{
Yahweh}}
is
going
to
humiliate
us
{\ADD{
by
causing
us
to
experience
disasters}}!”
\par }{\Q \VS{7}But
you
people [MTY]
of
Israel
should
not [RHQ]
talk
like
that!
\par }{\QB The
Spirit
of
Yahweh
will
certainly
not [RHQ]
be
patient
{\ADD{
with
people
who
say
such
things}}!
\par }{\QB People
who
continually
do
things
that
are
righteous
will
certainly [RHQ]
like/appreciate
what
I
say.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{
But
Yahweh
says}},
\par }{\QB “{\ADD{
Recently}}
my
people
have
been
acting
toward
me
like
an
enemy.
\par }{\Q When
soldiers
return
from
fighting
{\ADD{
against
their
enemies}},
\par }{\Q you
{\ADD{
rich
people
refuse
to
return
the
coats
of
those
poor
soldiers
who
have
borrowed
money
from
you}}
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
given
you
their
coats
to
guarantee
that
they
will
pay
back
the
money
that
they
borrowed
from
you}}.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
you
are
waiting
to forcefully
take
their
coats
off
their
backs!
\par }{\Q \VS{9}You
have
forced
women
to
leave
their
nice
homes,
\par }{\QB and
you
have
stolen
from
their
children
forever
the ◄blessings/good
things►
that
I
wanted
to
give
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
So}}
get
up
and
leave
{\ADD{
here}}!
\par }{\QB This
is
not
a
place
where
you
can
rest
{\ADD{
and
be
safe/protected}},
\par }{\Q because
you
have ◄defiled
it/caused
it
to
be
a
place
that
I
hate►;
\par }{\QB it
will
be
completely
destroyed.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
You
people
want}}
a
prophet
who
will
lie
to
you,
\par }{\QB saying ‘I
will
preach
{\ADD{
that
you
should
drink}}
plenty
of
wine
and
{\ADD{
other}} alcoholic
drinks!’
\par }{\QB That
is
the
{\ADD{
kind
of}}
prophet
who
{\ADD{
would
please}}
you.”
\par }{\SH Yahweh
promised
to
restore
them
\par }{\Q \VS{12}“{\ADD{
But
some
day}},
you
descendants
of
Jacob,
you Israeli
people
who
have
survived,
I
will
bring
you
back
{\ADD{
from ◄exile/other
countries►}},
\par }{\Q I
will
gather
you
together
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{
a
shepherd
gathers
his}}
sheep
from
the
pasture
into
a
pen [DOU];
\par }{\QB there
will
be
many
of
you
in
your
land/country.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Your
leader
will
enable
them
to
leave
the
countries
where
they
have
been
exiled;
\par }{\QB he
will
lead
them
out
of
the
gates
{\ADD{
of
their
enemies’
cities}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
back
to
your
own
country}}.
\par }{\Q Your
king
will
lead
them;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
is
I}},
Yahweh,
who
will
be
their
king!”

\par }\Chap{3}{\SH Micah rebuked the Israeli leaders
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Then
I
said, “You Israeli [MTY]
leaders,
listen
{\ADD{
to
what
I
say}}!
\par }{\Q You
should
certainly [RHQ]
know
what
things
are
right
{\ADD{
to
do}}
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
what
things
are
wrong}},
\par }{\Q \VS{2}but
you
hate
what
is
good
\par }{\Q and
you
love
what
is
evil.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
You
act
like butchers}}:
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
you
strip
the
skin
off
my
people
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
tear
}}
the
flesh
from
their
bones.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
you
chop
them
into
pieces
like [SIM]
meat
{\ADD{
to
be
cooked}}
in
a
pot.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Then,
{\ADD{
when
you
have
troubles}},
you
plead
to
Yahweh
{\ADD{
to
help
you}},
\par }{\QB but
he
will
not
answer
you.
\par }{\Q At
that
time,
he
will
turn
away
from
you
\par }{\QB because
of
the
evil
things
that
you
have
done.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{5}This
is
what
Yahweh
says
\par }{\Q about
your
{\ADD{
false}}
prophets
who
are
deceiving
the
people:
\par }{\QB “If
someone
gives
them
food,
\par }{\Q those
prophets
say
that
things
will
go
well
for
him.
\par }{\QB But
they
declare
war
against
anyone
who
does
not
give
them
food.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}So
{\ADD{
now
it
is
as
though}} [MET]
night
will
descend
on
you
prophets;
\par }{\QB you
will
not
receive
any
{\ADD{
more}}
visions.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
is
as
though}} [MET]
the
sun
will
set
for
you;
\par }{\QB the
time
{\ADD{
when
you
are
greatly
honored}}
will
end.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}{\ADD{
Then}}
you ◄seers/people
who
predict
what
will
happen
in
the
future► [DOU]
will
be
disgraced;
\par }{\QB you
will
cover
your
faces
{\ADD{
because
you
will
be
ashamed}},
\par }{\QB because
when
you
ask
me
{\ADD{
what
will
happen}},
there
will
be
no
answer
from
me.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{8}But
as
for
me,
I
am
full
of
{\ADD{
God’s}}
power,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
power}}
from
the
Spirit
of
Yahweh.
\par }{\Q I
am
courageous
and
strong
\par }{\QB to
declare
to
the Israeli
people [MTY, DOU]
\par }{\QB that
they
have
sinned
and
rebelled
{\ADD{
against
Yahweh}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}You
leaders
of
the
people [MTY]
of
Israel,
listen
to
this!
\par }{\QB You
hate
{\ADD{
it
when
people
do}}
what
is
just;
\par }{\Q and
{\ADD{
when
people
say}}
what
is
true,
\par }{\QB you
distort
it,
{\ADD{
saying
it
is
false}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
It
is
as
though}}
you
are
building
{\ADD{
houses
in}}
Jerusalem
on
foundations
\par }{\QB that consist
of murdering
people
and
doing
what
is
corrupt.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}Your
leaders
make
{\ADD{
favorable}}
decisions
{\ADD{
only
if
they
receive}}
bribes.
\par }{\QB Your
priests
teach
people
only
if
{\ADD{
those
people}}
pay
them
{\ADD{
well}}.
\par }{\QB Your
{\ADD{
false}}
prophets
require
people
to
pay
them
to
tell
people
what
will
happen
{\ADD{
to
them}}
in
the
future.
\par }{\Q Those
prophets
say, “Yahweh
is
telling
us
{\ADD{
what
we
should
say}},
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
we
say
that}}
we
will
not
experience
any
disasters.”
\par }{\Q \VS{12}Because
of
what
you
{\ADD{
leaders
do}},
\par }{\QB Zion
{\ADD{
Hill}}
will
be
plowed
like
a
field;
\par }{\Q it
will
become
a
heap
of
ruins/rubble;
\par }{\QB the
top
of
the
hill,
where
the
temple
is
{\ADD{
now}},
will
be
covered
with
bushes.

\par }\Chap{4}{\SH Yahweh’s future rule
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Yahweh
{\ADD{
says
that}}
some
day
his
temple
will
be
on
top
of
a
mountain,
\par }{\Q and
that
mountain
will
be
the
most
important [MET]
one
on
the
earth;
\par }{\QB it
will
be
{\ADD{
as
though
it
is}}
higher
than
all
the
hills,
\par }{\Q and
huge
groups
of
people
from
all
over
the
world
will
come
there
{\ADD{
to
worship}}.
\par }{\PP \VS{2}{\ADD{
People
from}}
many
nations
will
say
{\ADD{
to
each
other}},
\par }{\Q “Let’s
go
to
the
mountain
where
Yahweh
is,
\par }{\QB to
the
temple
where
we
can
worship
the
God
whom
Jacob
{\ADD{
worshiped}}.
\par }{\Q There
God
will
teach
us
how
he
wants
us
to
conduct
our
lives,
\par }{\QB and
we
will
do
what
he
wants
us
to
do.”
\par }{\Q Zion
{\ADD{
Hill}}
is
the
place
where
he
will
teach
{\ADD{
people}};
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
people
will
go}}
out
from
Jerusalem
{\ADD{
to
tell
others}}
his
messages.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}Yahweh
will
settle
disputes
between
many
people,
\par }{\QB and
he
will
{\ADD{
also}}
settle
disputes
between
powerful
nations
that
are
far
away.
\par }{\Q Then
people
will
hammer
their
swords
to
cause
them
to
become
plow blades,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
hammer}}
their
spears
to
cause
them
to
become
pruning
knives.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Armies
of}}
nations
will
no
{\ADD{
longer}}
fight
against
{\ADD{
armies
of
other}}
nations,
\par }{\QB and
they
will
no
longer
train
{\ADD{
men
how
to
fight}}
in
wars.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}Everyone
will
sit
{\ADD{
peacefully}}
under
his
own grapevines,
\par }{\QB and
under
his
own
fig
trees;
\par }{\Q no
one
will
cause
them
to
be
afraid.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
That
is
what
will
surely
happen}}
because
the
Commander
of
the
armies
of
angels
has
said
it.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}Many [HYP]
{\ADD{
of
the
people
of
other}}
nations
will
worship [IDM]
their
own
gods,
\par }{\QB but
we
will
worship
Yahweh
our
God
always,
forever.
\par }{\SH The Israeli
people
will
return
from
exile
\par }{\PP \VS{6}Yahweh
says, “There
will
soon
be
a
time
when
I
will
gather
the
people
whom
I
have
punished,
\par }{\Q who
have
been ◄exiled/forced
to
go
to
other
countries►,
\par }{\QB all
those
whom
{\ADD{
I
have
caused
to}}
suffer
much.
\par }{\Q \VS{7}My
people
who
did
not
die
while
they
were
exiled
will
become
a
strong
nation
{\ADD{
again}}.
\par }{\Q Then
{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
will
be
their
king,
\par }{\QB and
I
will
rule
from
Jerusalem
forever.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}As
for
you
people
of
Jerusalem [MET],
\par }{\QB you
who
{\ADD{
guard
all
of
my
people}}
like [MET]
{\ADD{
a
shepherd
guards
his
sheep}}
from
a
tower,
\par }{\Q you
{\ADD{
who
live
on}}
Zion
{\ADD{
Hill}},
will
have
great
power
again.
\par }{\QB You
people
who
live
in
Jerusalem
will
again
rule
like
you
did
previously.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{9}{\ADD{
So}}
why [RHQ]
are
you
wailing
now?
\par }{\QB Is
it
because
you
have
no
king?
\par }{\Q Have
all
your
wise
people
died?
\par }{\QB You
are
groaning
loudly
like [SIM]
a
woman
who
is
giving
birth
to
a
baby.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}{\ADD{
Well}},
you
people
of
Jerusalem
should
writhe
and
groan
like [SIM]
a
woman
who
is
having
birth
pains,
\par }{\QB because
now
you
must
leave
this
city,
\par }{\Q and
{\ADD{
while
you
are
traveling}},
you
will
set
up
tents
in
open
fields
{\ADD{
at
night}};
\par }{\QB you
will
go
to
{\ADD{
live
in}}
Babylon.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
But
while
you
are}}
there,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
will
rescue
you;
\par }{\Q I
will
free
you
from
the
power/control [MTY]
of
your
enemies.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}Now
{\ADD{
the
armies
of}}
many
nations
have
gathered
to
attack
you.
\par }{\QB They
are
saying, ‘Jerusalem
must
be
destroyed!
\par }{\QB We
want
to
see
this
city
{\ADD{
when
it
becomes
ruins}}!’
\par }{\Q \VS{12}But
they
do
not
know
what
{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
think,
\par }{\QB and
they
do
not
understand
what
I
plan:
\par }{\Q I
will
gather
them
{\ADD{
and
punish
them}}
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
{\ADD{
farmers}}
thresh
grain
on
the
ground.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{13}So,
you
people
of
Jerusalem,
rise
up
and
punish [MET]
{\ADD{
the
nations
who
oppose
you}}.
\par }{\QB I
will
cause
you
{\ADD{
to
be
very
strong}},
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
as
if}} [MET]
you
had
horns
made
of
iron,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
as
if}} [MET]
you
had
hoofs
made
of
bronze;
\par }{\QB and
you
will
crush
many
nations.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q And
{\ADD{
then
you
will
take}}
from
your
enemies
the
valuable
things
that
they
have
taken
{\ADD{
from
other
countries}},
\par }{\QB and
you
will
dedicate
those
things
to
{\ADD{
me,
the
one
who
is}}
the
Lord
of
all
{\ADD{
the
people
on}}
the
earth.”

\par }\PoetryChap{5}{\Q \VerseOne{1}“But
now,
{\ADD{
you
people
of
Jerusalem,
gather
your
troops
together,}}
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
because
even
though}}
you
have
a
wall
{\ADD{
around
your
city
to
protect
it}},
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
enemy
soldiers}}
are
surrounding
the
city.
\par }{\QB And
{\ADD{
soon}}
they
will
strike
your
leader
on
his
face,
with
a
rod.”
\par }{\SH A
ruler
will
come
from
Bethlehem
\par }{\Q \VS{2}But
you
{\ADD{
people
of}} [APO]
Bethlehem
in
Ephrathah
{\ADD{
district
need
to
know
that}}
\par }{\QB even
though
your
{\ADD{
town}}
is
a
very
small
one
among
all
the
towns
in
Judah,
\par }{\QB someone
who
will
rule
Israel
will
be
born
in
your
town.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
He
will
be}}
someone
whose
family
has
existed
a
very
long
time
ago [DOU].
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}{\ADD{
But
now}}
you
people
of
Israel
will
be
conquered
by
your
enemies;
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
but
it
will
be
for
only
a
short
time}},
\par }{\Q like [MET]
{\ADD{
the
short
time
that}}
women
have
great
pain
while
their
babies
are
being
born.
\par }{\QB After
that,
your fellow-countrymen
who
were ◄exiled/forced
to
go
to
other
countries►
will
return
to
their
own
country.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{4}And
that
man
who
will
be
ruling
{\ADD{
there
in
Jerusalem}}
will
stand
and
lead
his
people
well,
\par }{\QB because
Yahweh,
his
God,
will
cause
him
to
be
strong
and
greatly
honored.
\par }{\Q Then
the
people
whom
he
rules
will
live
{\ADD{
in
Jerusalem}}
safely;
\par }{\QB he
will
be
greatly
honored
by
people
all
over
the
earth,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
so
no
one
will
dare
to
attack
Jerusalem}}.
\par }{\QB \VS{5}And
he
will
cause
things
to
go
well
{\ADD{
for
his
people}}.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
rescue
some
and
get
rid
of
others
\par }{\Q When
{\ADD{
the
army
of}}
Assyria
attacks
our
country
\par }{\QB and
breaks
though
our
fortresses,
\par }{\Q we
will
appoint ◄seven
or
eight/several►
leaders
{\ADD{
to
lead
our
army}}
to
fight
against
them.
\par }{\Q \VS{6}With
their
swords
{\ADD{
our
army}}
will
defeat
the
{\ADD{
army
of}}
Assyria,
{\ADD{
whose
capital
was
founded
by}}
Nimrod
{\ADD{
long
ago}}.
\par }{\Q So
our
army
will
rescue
us
from
the
Assyrian
{\ADD{
army}}
\par }{\QB when
they
invade
our
country [DOU].
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}The ◄descendants
of
Jacob/Israelis►
who
survive
will
be
{\ADD{
a
blessing}}
to
the
people
of
other
nations,
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
dew
and
rain
sent
by
Yahweh
do
good
to
the
grass.
\par }{\Q The Israelis
will
not
trust
in humans
{\ADD{
to
help
them}};
\par }{\QB instead,
they
will
rely
on
Yahweh.
\par }{\Q \VS{8}In
the
midst
of
{\ADD{
their
enemies
in}}
many people-groups [DOU],
\par }{\QB the
descendants
of
Jacob
who
remain
alive
will
be
like [SIM]
a
lion
among
the
{\ADD{
other}}
wild
beasts
of
the
forest,
\par }{\Q like [SIM]
a
young
lion
who
goes
among
a
flock
of
sheep
and pounces
{\ADD{
on
one}}
and ◄mauls
it/tears
it
to
pieces►,
\par }{\QB and
no
one
will
be
able
to
rescue
{\ADD{
that
sheep}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}You Israelis
will
defeat [MTY]
all
your
enemies
\par }{\QB and
completely
destroy
them.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{10}Yahweh
says,
\par }{\Q “At
that
time,
I
will
destroy
{\ADD{
you Israeli
people’s}}
horses
{\ADD{
that
your
soldiers
use
in
war}}
\par }{\QB and
your
chariots.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}I
will
tear
down
your
city
{\ADD{
walls}}
\par }{\QB and
destroy
all
your
fortified
cities.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}I
will
get
rid
of
all
those
among
you
who
practice magic
\par }{\QB and
the ◄fortune-tellers/those
who
say
that
they
can
predict
what
will
happen
in
the
future►.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}I
will
destroy
{\ADD{
all}}
your
idols
and
{\ADD{
sacred
stone}}
pillars,
\par }{\QB and
then
you
will
no
longer
bow
down
{\ADD{
and
worship}}
things
that
you
yourselves [SYN]
have
made.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}I
will
get
rid
of
your
poles
{\ADD{
that
represent
the
goddess}}
Asherah,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
I
will
also}}
destroy
all
your
idols.
\par }{\Q \VS{15}And
because
I
will
be
very
angry,
\par }{\QB I
will
{\ADD{
also}}
punish
{\ADD{
the
people
of}}
all
the
nations
who
have
not
obeyed
{\ADD{
me}}.”

\par }\Chap{6}{\SH Yahweh accuses his people
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}Pay
attention
to
what
Yahweh
says
{\ADD{
to
you Israeli
people}}:
\par }{\Q “Stand
up
{\ADD{
in
court}}
and
state
what
you
are
accusing
{\ADD{
me}}
about.
\par }{\QB And
allow
the
hills
and
mountains
to
hear
what
you
will
say.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
But
then}}
you
mountains
must
{\ADD{
also}}
listen
{\ADD{
carefully}} [DOU]
to
what
I,
Yahweh,
am
complaining
{\ADD{
about
my
people}}.
\par }{\QB I
have
something
to
say
about
what [DOU]
my Israeli
people
are
doing
that
displeases
me.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{3}My
people,
what
have
I
done
to
{\ADD{
cause
trouble
for}}
you [RHQ]?
\par }{\QB What
have
I
done
to
cause
you
to
experience difficulties?
\par }{\Q Answer
me!
\par }{\Q \VS{4}I
{\ADD{
did
great
things
for
your
ancestors}};
\par }{\QB I
brought
them
out
of
Egypt;
\par }{\QB I
rescued
them
from
that
land
where
they
were
slaves.
\par }{\Q I
sent
Moses
to
{\ADD{
lead}}
them,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
his
older
brother}}
Aaron
and
{\ADD{
his
older
sister}}
Miriam.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}My
people,
think
about
when
Balak,
the
king
of
Moab,
requested Beor’s
son
Balaam
{\ADD{
to
curse
your
ancestors}},
\par }{\QB and
think
about
what
Balaam
replied.
\par }{\Q Think
about
{\ADD{
how
your
ancestors
crossed
the
Jordan
River miraculously
while}}
they
were
traveling
from
Acacia
to
Gilgal.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Think
about
those
things
in
order}}
that
you
may
know
that
{\ADD{
I}},
Yahweh,
do
what
is
right.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{6}{\ADD{
The Israeli
people
ask,}} “What
shall
we
bring
to
Yahweh
{\ADD{
who
lives
in}}
heaven
\par }{\QB when
we
come
to
him
and
bow
down
before
him?
\par }{\Q Should
we
bring
calves
that
are
a year-old
\par }{\QB that
will
be
offerings
that
will
be
{\ADD{
killed
and}}
completely
burned
{\ADD{
on
the
altar}}?
\par }{\Q \VS{7}Will
Yahweh
be
pleased
{\ADD{
if
we
offer
to
him}} 1,000
rams
\par }{\QB and 10,000
streams
of
{\ADD{
olive}}
oil?
\par }{\Q Should
we
offer
our
firstborn
children
{\ADD{
to
be
sacrifices}}
\par }{\QB to
pay
for
the
sins
that
we
have
committed [DOU]?”
\par }{\Q \VS{8}{\ADD{
No,
because}}
he
has
shown
each
of
us
what
is
good
{\ADD{
to
do}};
\par }{\QB he
has
shown [RHQ]
us
what
he
requires
each
of
us
{\ADD{
to
do}}:
\par }{\Q He
wants
us
to
do
what
is
just/fair
and
to
love
and
to
be
merciful
{\ADD{
to
others}},
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
he
wants
us}}
to
live
humbly
{\ADD{
while
we
fellowship}}
with
him,
our
God.
\par }{\SH The
people
of
Israel
are
guilty
and
must
be
punished
\par }{\Q \VS{9}“I
am
Yahweh,
so
if
you
are
wise,
you
should
revere
me.
\par }{\QB I
am
calling
out
to
{\ADD{
you
people
of}}
Jerusalem,
\par }{\Q ‘The
armies [MET]
that
will
destroy
your
city
are
coming,
\par }{\QB so
pay
careful
attention
to
me,
the
one
who
is
causing
them
to
punish
you
with
my
rod.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Do
you
think
that [RHQ]
I
should
forget
that
you
wicked
people
filled
your
homes
with
valuable
things
\par }{\QB that
you
acquired
by cheating
{\ADD{
others}}?
\par }{\Q Do
you
think
that [RHQ]
I
should
forget
that
you
used
false
measures
{\ADD{
when
you
bought
and
sold
things}}?
\par }{\QB Those
are
things
that
I
hate.
\par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
Do
you
think}}
that [RHQ]
I
should
say
nothing
about
people
who
use
scales
that
do
not
weigh
correctly,
\par }{\QB and
who
use
weights
that
are
not
accurate?
\par }{\Q \VS{12}The
rich
people
among
you
always
act
violently
{\ADD{
to
get
money
from
poor
people}}.
\par }{\QB All
of
the
people
{\ADD{
in
Jerusalem}}
are
liars,
\par }{\QB and
they [SYN]
always
deceive
people.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}Therefore,
I
have
{\ADD{
already}}
begun
to
get
rid
of
you,
\par }{\QB to
ruin
you
because
of
the
sins
that
you
have
committed.
\par }{\Q \VS{14}{\ADD{
Soon}}
you
will
eat
food,
but
you
will
not
have
enough
to
satisfy
you;
\par }{\QB your
stomachs
will
{\ADD{
still
feel
as
though
they
are}}
empty.
\par }{\Q You
will
try
to
save
up
{\ADD{
money}},
\par }{\QB but
you
will
not
be
able
to
save
anything,
\par }{\Q because
I
will
send
your
enemies
to
take
it
from
you
in
wars [MTY].
\par }{\Q \VS{15}You
will
plant
{\ADD{
seeds}},
\par }{\QB but
you
will
not
harvest
{\ADD{
anything}}.
\par }{\Q You
will
press
olives,
\par }{\QB but
{\ADD{
others}},
not
you,
will
use
the
{\ADD{
olive}}
oil.
\par }{\Q You
will
trample
on
grapes
{\ADD{
and
make
wine
from
the
juice}},
\par }{\QB but
{\ADD{
others}},
not
you,
will
drink
the
wine.
\par }{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{
Those
things
will
happen
to
you
because}}
you
obey
{\ADD{
only}}
the
wicked
laws
of
{\ADD{
King}}
Omri,
\par }{\QB and
{\ADD{
you
do
the
terrible
things
that
wicked
King}}
Ahab
and
his
descendants
commanded.
\par }{\Q So,
I
will
destroy
your
{\ADD{
country}},
\par }{\QB and
I
will
cause
your
people
to
be
despised;
\par }{\QB people
{\ADD{
of
other
nations}}
will
insult
you.’ ”

\par }\Chap{7}{\SH Micah’s misery and his hope
\par }{\Q \VerseOne{1}I
am
very
miserable/frustrated!
\par }{\Q I
am
like [SIM]
someone
who
is
hungry,
{\ADD{
who
searches
for
fruit
to
pick}}
\par }{\QB after
all
the
fruit
had
been
picked
\par }{\Q and
who
finds
no
grapes
or
figs
to
eat.
\par }{\Q \VS{2}{\ADD{
All}}
the
godly
people
have
disappeared
from
this
land;
\par }{\QB there
is
not
one
of
them
left.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
The
people
who
are
left}}
are
all
murderers [MTY];
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
everyone
is
eager
to
kill
his
fellow
countryman.
\par }{\Q \VS{3}They
{\ADD{
all}}
use
both
hands
to
do
what
is
evil.
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
Government}}
officials
and
judges
{\ADD{
all}}
ask
for
bribes.
\par }{\Q Important
people
tell
others
what
they
want,
\par }{\QB and
they
plot/scheme
together
{\ADD{
about
how
to
get
it
done}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{4}{\ADD{
Even}}
the
best
people
are
{\ADD{
as
worthless}} [SIM]
as
briers;
\par }{\QB the
people
{\ADD{
who
are
considered
by
others
to
be}} [IRO]
the
most
honest
are
worse
than clumps
of thornbushes.
\par }{\Q But,
{\ADD{
Yahweh}}
will
soon
judge
them;
\par }{\QB now
is
the
time
that
he
will
punish
people,
\par }{\QB a
time
when
they
will
be
{\ADD{
very}}
confused
{\ADD{
because
of
being
defeated}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{5}{\ADD{
So}},
do
not
trust
anyone!
\par }{\QB Do
not
trust
{\ADD{
even}}
a
friend;
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
even}}
be
careful
what
you
say
to
your
wife
whom
you
love!
\par }{\Q \VS{6}Boys
will
despise
their
fathers,
\par }{\QB and
girls
will
defy
their
mothers.
\par }{\Q Women
will
defy
their mothers-in-law.
\par }{\QB Your
enemies
will
be
those
who
live
in
your
own
houses.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{7}As
for
me,
I
wait
for
Yahweh
{\ADD{
to
help
me}}.
\par }{\QB I
confidently
expect
that
God,
my
Savior,
will
answer
me
{\ADD{
when
I
pray}}.
\par }{\SH Yahweh
will
rescue
his
people
\par }{\Q \VS{8}You
who
are
our
enemies,
\par }{\QB do
not
gloat/rejoice
about
{\ADD{
what
has
happened
to}}
us,
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
because
even}}
if
we
have
experienced
disasters,
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
those
disasters
will
end
and}}
we
will
be
restored.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Even}}
if
{\ADD{
it
is
as
though}}
we
are
sitting
in
the
darkness,
\par }{\QB Yahweh
will
be
our
light.
\par }{\Q \VS{9}We
must
be
patient
while
Yahweh
punishes
us
\par }{\QB because
we
have
sinned
against
him.
\par }{\Q But
later,
{\ADD{
it
will
be
as
though}}
he
will
go
to
court
and
defend
us,
\par }{\QB and
he
will
make
sure
that
the
judge
makes
a
right
decision
about
us.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
It
will
be
as
though}}
he
will
bring
us
out
into
the
light,
\par }{\QB and
we
will
see
it
when
he
rescues
us.
\par }{\Q \VS{10}Our
enemies
will
{\ADD{
also}}
see
that,
and
they
will
be
disgraced
\par }{\QB because
they
{\ADD{ridiculed
us}},
saying
\par }{\Q “Why
is [RHQ]
Yahweh,
that
God
of
yours,
{\ADD{
not
helping
you}}?”
\par }{\Q But
with
our
own
eyes
we
will
see
them
when
they
are
defeated;
\par }{\QB we
will
see
them
trampled
\par }{\QB like [SIM]
mud
in
the
streets.
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{11}{\ADD{
You
people
of
Israel,}}
at
that
time
your
cities
will
be
rebuilt,
\par }{\QB and
your
territory
will
become
larger.
\par }{\Q \VS{12}{\ADD{
People
from
many
countries
will
come
to
honor
you}}:
\par }{\QB people
from
Assyria
and
from
{\ADD{
near}}
the
{\ADD{
Euphrates}}
River
{\ADD{
in
the
east}}
and
from
Egypt
{\ADD{
in
the
south}},
\par }{\Q from
distant
seas,
\par }{\QB and
from
many
mountains.
\par }{\Q \VS{13}But
{\ADD{
the
other
countries
on}}
the
earth
will
become
desolate
\par }{\QB because
of
the
{\ADD{
evil}}
things
that
their
people
have
done.
\par }{\SH Micah’s
prayer
and
Yahweh’s
answer
\par }{\Q \VS{14}Yahweh,
protect
your
people
like [MET]
{\ADD{
a
shepherd
protects
his
sheep}}
by
using
his
walking
stick;
\par }{\QB lead
your
people [MET]
whom
you
have
chosen
to
belong
to
you.
\par }{\Q {\ADD{
Even
though
some
of
them}}
live
by
themselves
in
a
forest,
\par }{\QB give
them
the
fertile pastureland
\par }{\Q in
the
Bashan
and
Gilead
{\ADD{
regions}}
\par }{\QB that
they
possessed
long
ago.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{15}{\ADD{
Yahweh
says/replies}},
\par }{\Q “{\ADD{
Yes}},
I
will
perform
miracles
for
you
\par }{\QB like
the
miracles
that
I
performed
when
I
rescued
your
{\ADD{
ancestors}}
from
{\ADD{
being
slaves
in}}
Egypt.”
\par }{\BB \par }{\Q \VS{16}{\ADD{
People
from
many}}
nations
will
see
{\ADD{
what
Yahweh
does
for
you}},
\par }{\Q and
they
will
be
ashamed
\par }{\QB because
they
do
not
have
any
power.
\par }{\Q They
will
put
their
hands
over
their
mouths
and
their
ears
{\ADD{
because
they
will
be
very
amazed
because
of
what
Yahweh
does}},
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
and
they
will
not
be
able
to
say
anything
or
hear
anything}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{17}{\ADD{
Being
very
humiliated,}}
they
will crawl
on
the
ground [MTY]
like [SIM]
snakes.
\par }{\Q They
will
come
out
of
their
homes
trembling,
\par }{\QB and
stand revering
Yahweh
our
God.
\par }{\Q They
will
be
very
afraid
of
him,
\par }{\QB and
will
tremble
in
front
of
him.
\par }{\Q \VS{18}{\ADD{
Yahweh}},
there
is
no [RHQ]
God
like
you;
\par }{\QB you
forgive
the
sins [DOU]
that
were
committed
by
the
people
who
have
survived,
\par }{\QB the
people
who
belong
to
you.
\par }{\Q You
do
not
remain
angry
forever;
\par }{\QB you
are
very
happy
{\ADD{
to
show
us}}
that
you
faithfully
love
{\ADD{
us}}.
\par }{\Q \VS{19}You
will
again
act
kindly/compassionately
toward
us.
\par }{\QB You
will
get
rid
of
{\ADD{
the
scroll
on
which
you
have
written}}
the
sins
that
we
have
committed
\par }{\QB {\ADD{
as
though
you
were}}
trampling
it
under
your
feet
\par }{\QB or
throwing
it
into
the
deep
ocean.
\par }{\Q \VS{20}You
will
show
that
you
faithfully
{\ADD{
do
what
you
promised
for
us}}
and
faithfully
love
us,
\par }{\QB just
like
you
solemnly
promised
long
ago
to
our
ancestors
Abraham
and
Jacob
that
you
would
do.
\par }