| 1:1 | This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to* Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message* during the reigns of* Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to* Samaria* and Jerusalem.* |
| 1:2 | Listen, all you nations!* Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth!* The sovereign Lord will testify* against you; the Lord will accuse you* from his majestic palace.* |
| 1:3 | Look,* the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops!* |
| 1:4 | The mountains will disintegrate* beneath him, and the valleys will be split in two.* The mountains will melt* like wax in a fire, the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope.* |
| 1:5 | All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion and* the sins of the nation* of Israel. How has Jacob rebelled, you ask?* Samaria epitomizes their rebellion!* Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask?* They are right in Jerusalem!* |
| 1:6 | “I will turn Samaria* into a heap of ruins in an open field – vineyards will be planted there!* I will tumble* the rubble of her stone walls* down into the valley, and tear down her fortifications to their foundations.* |
| 1:7 | All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces; all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire.* I will make a waste heap* of all her images. Since* she gathered the metal* as a prostitute collects her wages, the idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.”* |
| 1:8 | For this reason I* will mourn and wail; I will walk around barefoot* and without my outer garments.* I will howl* like a wild dog,* and screech* like an owl.* |
| 1:9 | For Samaria’s* disease* is incurable. It has infected* Judah; it has spread to* the leadership* of my people and has even contaminated Jerusalem!* |
| 1:10 | Don’t spread the news in Gath!* Don’t shed even a single tear!* In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust!* |
| 1:11 | Residents* of Shaphir,* pass by in nakedness and humiliation!* The residents of Zaanan can’t leave their city.* Beth Ezel* mourns,* “He takes from you what he desires.”* |
| 1:12 | Indeed, the residents of Maroth* hope for something good to happen,* though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.* |
| 1:13 | Residents of Lachish,* hitch the horses to the chariots! You* influenced Daughter Zion* to sin,* for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back* to you! |
| 1:14 | Therefore you* will have to say farewell* to Moresheth Gath. The residents* of Achzib* will be as disappointing as a dried up well* to the kings of Israel.* |
| 1:15 | Residents of Mareshah,* a conqueror will attack you,* the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam.* |
| 1:16 | Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love;* shave your foreheads as bald* as an eagle,* for they are taken from you into exile. |
Micah 1 - NET Bible [draft]
