Mikha 7:16

7:16 Nations will see this and be disappointed by ¹  all their strength,

they will put their hands over their mouths,

and act as if they were deaf. ² 

Mikha 6:14

6:14 You will eat, but not be satisfied.

Even if you have the strength ³  to overtake some prey, ⁴ 

you will not be able to carry it away; ⁵ 

if you do happen to carry away something,

I will deliver it over to the sword.

[7:16]  ¹ tn Or “be ashamed of.”

[7:16]  ² tn Heb “and their ears will be deaf.” Apparently this means the opposing nations will be left dumbfounded by the Lord’s power. Their inability to respond will make them appear to be deaf mutes.

[6:14]  ³ tc The first Hebrew term in the line (וְיֶשְׁחֲךָ, vÿyeshkhakha) is obscure. HALOT 446 s.v. יֶשַׁח understands a noun meaning “filth,” which would yield the translation, “and your filth is inside you.” The translation assumes an emendation to כֹּחַ-וְיֶשׁ (vÿyesh-koakh, “and [if] there is strength inside you”).

[6:14]  ⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term וְתַסֵּג (vÿtasseg) is unclear. The translation assumes it is a Hiphal imperfect from נָסַג/נָשַׂג (nasag/nasag, “reach; overtake”) and that hunting imagery is employed. (Note the reference to hunger in the first line of the verse.) See D. R. Hillers, Micah (Hermeneia), 80.

[6:14]  ⁵ tn The Hiphal of פָּלַט (palat) is used in Isa 5:29 of an animal carrying its prey to a secure place.