Micah 1

¹The LORD gave this message to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The visions he saw concerned both Samaria and Jerusalem.

Grief over Samaria and Jerusalem ² Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear. The Sovereign LORD is making accusations against you; the LORD speaks from his holy Temple. ³ Look! The LORD is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth. ⁴ The mountains melt beneath his feet and flow into the valleys like wax in a fire, like water pouring down a hill. ⁵ And why is this happening? Because of the rebellion of Israel Hebrew Jacob; also in 1:5b. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.— yes, the sins of the whole nation. Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion? Samaria, its capital city! Where is the center of idolatry in Judah? In Jerusalem, its capital!

⁶“So I, the LORD, will make the city of Samaria a heap of ruins. Her streets will be plowed up for planting vineyards. I will roll the stones of her walls into the valley below, exposing her foundations. ⁷ All her carved images will be smashed. All her sacred treasures will be burned. These things were bought with the money earned by her prostitution, and they will now be carried away to pay prostitutes elsewhere.”

⁸Therefore, I will mourn and lament. I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. ⁹ For my people’s wound is too deep to heal. It has reached into Judah, even to the gates of Jerusalem.

¹⁰Don’t tell our enemies in Gath Gath sounds like the Hebrew term for “tell.”; don’t weep at all. You people in Beth-leaphrah, Beth-leaphrah means “house of dust.” roll in the dust to show your despair. ¹¹ You people in Shaphir, Shaphir means “pleasant.” go as captives into exile—naked and ashamed. The people of Zaanan Zaanan sounds like the Hebrew term for “come out.” dare not come outside their walls. The people of Beth-ezel Beth-ezel means “adjoining house.” mourn, for their house has no support. ¹² The people of Maroth Maroth sounds like the Hebrew term for “bitter.” anxiously wait for relief, but only bitterness awaits them as the LORD’s judgment reaches even to the gates of Jerusalem.

¹³Harness your chariot horses and flee, you people of Lachish. Lachish sounds like the Hebrew term for “team of horses.” You were the first city in Judah to follow Israel in her rebellion, and you led Jerusalem Hebrew the daughter of Zion. into sin. ¹⁴ Send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath Moresheth sounds like the Hebrew term for “gift” or “dowry.”; there is no hope of saving it. The town of Aczib Aczib means “deception.” has deceived the kings of Israel. ¹⁵ O people of Mareshah, Mareshah sounds like the Hebrew term for “conqueror.” I will bring a conqueror to capture your town. And the leaders Hebrew the glory. of Israel will go to Adullam.

¹⁶Oh, people of Judah, shave your heads in sorrow, for the children you love will be snatched away. Make yourselves as bald as a vulture, for your little ones will be exiled to distant lands.