1:1 This is the prophetic message that the Lord gave to 1 Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message 2 during the reigns of 3 Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to 4 Samaria 5 and Jerusalem. 6
1:2 Listen, all you nations! 7
Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth! 8
The sovereign Lord will testify 9 against you;
the Lord will accuse you 10 from his majestic palace. 11
1:3 Look, 12 the Lord is coming out of his dwelling place!
He will descend and march on the earth’s mountaintops! 13
1:4 The mountains will disintegrate 14 beneath him,
and the valleys will be split in two. 15
The mountains will melt 16 like wax in a fire,
the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope. 17
1:5 All this is because of Jacob’s rebellion
and 18 the sins of the nation 19 of Israel.
How has Jacob rebelled, you ask? 20
Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! 21
Where are Judah’s pagan worship centers, you ask? 22
They are right in Jerusalem! 23
1:6 “I will turn Samaria 24 into a heap of ruins in an open field –
vineyards will be planted there! 25
I will tumble 26 the rubble of her stone walls 27 down into the valley,
and tear down her fortifications to their foundations. 28
1:7 All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces;
all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire. 29
I will make a waste heap 30 of all her images.
Since 31 she gathered the metal 32 as a prostitute collects her wages,
the idols will become a prostitute’s wages again.” 33
1:8 For this reason I 34 will mourn and wail;
I will walk around barefoot 35 and without my outer garments. 36
I will howl 37 like a wild dog, 38
and screech 39 like an owl. 40
1:9 For Samaria’s 41 disease 42 is incurable.
It has infected 43 Judah;
it has spread to 44 the leadership 45 of my people
and has even contaminated Jerusalem! 46
1:10 Don’t spread the news in Gath! 47
Don’t shed even a single tear! 48
In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust! 49
1:11 Residents 50 of Shaphir, 51 pass by in nakedness and humiliation! 52
The residents of Zaanan can’t leave their city. 53
Beth Ezel 54 mourns, 55
“He takes from you what he desires.” 56
1:12 Indeed, the residents of Maroth 57 hope for something good to happen, 58
though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem. 59
1:13 Residents of Lachish, 60 hitch the horses to the chariots!
You 61 influenced Daughter Zion 62 to sin, 63
for Israel’s rebellious deeds can be traced back 64 to you!
1:14 Therefore you 65 will have to say farewell 66 to Moresheth Gath.
The residents 67 of Achzib 68 will be as disappointing
as a dried up well 69 to the kings of Israel. 70
1:15 Residents of Mareshah, 71 a conqueror will attack you, 72
the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam. 73
1:16 Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love; 74
shave your foreheads as bald 75 as an eagle, 76
for they are taken from you into exile.