| { | |
| "title": "Micah", | |
| "language": "en", | |
| "versionTitle": "merged", | |
| "versionSource": "https://www.sefaria.org/Micah", | |
| "text": [ | |
| [ | |
| "The word of G<small>OD</small> that came to Micah the Morashtite, who prophesied concerning Samaria and Jerusalem in the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Listen, all you peoples,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Give heed, O earth, and all it holds;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And let the Sovereign </span> G<small>OD</small> be your accuser—<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The Sovereign from the holy abode.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For lo! </span> G<small>OD</small> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Is coming forth from the heavenly</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>the heavenly </b>Lit. “His.”</i> dwelling-place—<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To come down and stride</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Upon the heights of the earth.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The mountains shall melt underfoot</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the valleys burst open—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like wax before fire,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like water cascading down a slope.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">All this is for the transgression of Jacob,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And for the sins of the House of Israel.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">What is the transgression of Jacob</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But Samaria,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And what the shrines</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>shrines </b>Emendation yields “sins.”</i> of Judah<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But Jerusalem?</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">So I will turn Samaria</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Into a ruin in open country,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Into ground for planting vineyards;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For I will tumble her stones into the valley</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And lay her foundations bare.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">All her sculptured images shall be smashed,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And all her prostitute’s wealth</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>her prostitute’s wealth </b>I.e., the bounty of offerings dedicated to idols.</i> be burned,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And I will make a waste heap of all her idols,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For they were amassed from fees for prostitution,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And they shall become prostitute’s fees again.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Because of this I will lament and wail;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will go stripped and naked!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will lament as sadly as the jackals,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">As mournfully as the ostriches.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For the nation’s</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>the nation’s </b>Heb. “her.”</i> wound is incurable,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">It has reached Judah,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">It has spread to the gate of my people,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To Jerusalem.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">e</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of much of vv. 10–13 uncertain. They may refer to the transfer of part of western Judah to Philistine rule by Sennacherib of Assyria in the year 701 B<small>CE</small>.</i> </span>Tell it not in Gath,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Refrain from weeping;</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">f</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Tell it not … weeping </b>So that enemies may not gloat; cf. 2 Sam. 1.20.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In Beth-leaphrah,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Strew dust</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">g</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>dust </b>Heb. <i>ʻaphar</i>, a play on Beth-leaphrah; vv. 10–15 contain several similar puns.</i> over your [head].", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Pass on, inhabitants of Shaphir!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Did not the inhabitants of Zaanan</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Have to go forth naked in shame?</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">There is lamentation in Beth-ezel—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">It will withdraw its support from you.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Though the inhabitants of Maroth</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hoped for good,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Yet disaster from </span> G<small>OD</small> descended<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Upon the gate of Jerusalem.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hitch the steeds to the chariot,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Inhabitant of Lachish!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">It is the beginning</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Of Fair Zion’s guilt;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Israel’s transgressions</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Can be traced to you!</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Truly, you must give a farewell gift</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To Moresheth-gath.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The houses of Achzib are</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">h</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>The houses of Achzib are </b>Emendation yields “Fair Achzib is.”</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To the kings of Israel</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like a spring that fails.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">A dispossessor will I bring to you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who dwell in Mareshah;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">At Adullam the glory</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Of Israel shall set.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shear off your hair and make yourself bald</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">i</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>make yourself bald </b>A common rite of mourning; cf. Jer. 7.29.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For the children you once delighted in;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Make yourself as bald as a vulture,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For they have been banished from you.</span>" | |
| ], | |
| [ | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Ah, those who plan iniquity</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And design evil on their beds;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">When morning dawns, they do it,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For they have the power.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They covet fields, and seize them;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Houses, and take them away.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They defraud men of their homes,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And people of their land.</span><br>", | |
| "Assuredly, thus said G<small>OD</small>: I am planning such a misfortune against this clan that you will not be able to free your necks from it. You will not be able to walk erect; it will be such a time of disaster.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In that day,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">One shall recite a poem about you,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And utter a bitter lament,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And shall say:</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“My people’s portion changes hands;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">How it slips away from me!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Our field is allotted to a rebel.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>rebel </b>Emendation yields “ravager.”</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">We are utterly ravaged.”</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>My people’s portion … ravaged </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Truly, none of you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shall cast a lot cord</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>cast a lot cord </b>On a piece of land, thus acquiring title to it; cf. Josh. 18.6 and Ps. 16.6.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In the assembly of </span> G<small>OD</small> !", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“Stop preaching!” they preach.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“That’s no way to preach;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shame shall not overtake [us].</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Is the House of Jacob condemned?</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Shame … condemned </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Is </span> G<small>OD</small>’s patience short?<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Has such been the practice?”</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To be sure, My words are friendly</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To those who walk in rectitude;</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But an enemy arises against</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">e</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>an enemy arises against </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “you arise as enemies against.”</i> My people.<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You strip the mantle with the cloak</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">f</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>with the cloak </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “off peaceful folk.”</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Off such as pass unsuspecting,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who are turned away from war.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">g</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Who are turned away from war </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You drive the women of My people away</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From their pleasant homes;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You deprive their infants</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Of My glory forever.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Up and depart!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">This is no resting place</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Because of [your] defilement.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Terrible destruction shall befall.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">h</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Because of … befall </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">If someone were to go about uttering</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Windy, baseless falsehoods:</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“I’ll preach to you in favor of wine and liquor”—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">That would be a preacher [acceptable] to this people.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">i</sup><i class=\"footnote\">This verse and the next may offer another example of the “acceptable” preaching mentioned in v. 11.</i> </span>I will assemble Jacob, all of you;<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will bring together the remnant of Israel;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will make them all like sheep of Bozrah,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">j</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>of Bozrah </b>Emendation yields “in a fold [Arabic <i>sīrah</i>].”</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like a flock inside its pen</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">k</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>pen </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> —<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They will be noisy with people.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">One who makes a breach</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Goes before them;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They enlarge it to a gate</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And leave by it.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Their king marches before them,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\"> \nG<small>OD</small>\n </span> at their head." | |
| ], | |
| [ | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I said:</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Listen, you rulers of Jacob,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You chiefs of the House of Israel!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For you ought to know what is right,</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Syntax of this verse and the next uncertain.</i> </span>But you hate good and love evil.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have devoured My people’s flesh;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have flayed the skin off them,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And their flesh off their bones.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And after tearing their skins off them,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And their flesh off their bones,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>And after tearing their skins off them, / And their flesh off their bones </b>Moved down from v. 2 for clarity.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And breaking their bones to bits,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have cut it up as into</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>as into </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain; Septuagint and Syriac read “like flesh in.”</i> a pot,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like meat in a cauldron.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Someday they shall cry out to </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But they will not be answered;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">At that time the divine face will be hidden,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In accordance with the wrongs they have done.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Thus said </span> G<small>OD</small> to the prophets<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who lead My people astray,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who cry “Peace!”</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">When they have something to chew,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But launch a war on those</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who fail to fill their mouths:</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Assuredly,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">It shall be night for you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">So that you cannot prophesy,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And it shall be dark for you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">So that you cannot divine;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The sun shall set on the prophets,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the day shall be darkened for them.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The seers shall be shamed</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the diviners confounded;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They shall cover their upper lips,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>cover their upper lips </b>As a sign of mourning; cf. Ezek. 24.17, 22; Lev. 13.45.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Because no response comes from God.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But I,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I am filled with strength by the spirit of </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And with judgment and courage,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To declare to Jacob his transgressions</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And to Israel his sin.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hear this, you rulers of the House of Jacob,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You chiefs of the House of Israel,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who detest justice</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And make crooked all that is straight,</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who build Zion with crime,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Jerusalem with iniquity!</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Her rulers judge for gifts,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Her priests give rulings for a fee,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And her prophets divine for pay;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Yet they rely upon </span> G<small>OD</small>, saying,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“</span> G<small>OD</small> is in our midst;<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">No calamity shall overtake us.”</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Assuredly, because of you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Zion shall be plowed as a field,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the Temple Mount a shrine in the woods.</span>" | |
| ], | |
| [ | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Cf. Isa. 2.2–4.</i> </span>In the days to come,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The Mount of </span> G<small>OD</small>’s House shall stand<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Firm above the mountains;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And it shall tower above the hills.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The peoples shall gaze on it with joy,</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the many nations shall go and shall say:</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“Come,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let us go up to the Mount of </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To the House of the God of Jacob;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">That we may be instructed in God’s ways,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And that we may walk in godly paths.”</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For instruction shall come forth</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>instruction shall come forth </b>I.e., oracles will be obtainable.</i> from Zion,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The word of </span> G<small>OD</small> from Jerusalem.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Thus [God] will judge among the many peoples,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And arbitrate for the multitude of nations,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">However distant;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And they shall beat their swords into plowshares</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>plowshares </b>More exactly, the iron points with which wooden plows were tipped.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And their spears into pruning hooks.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Nation shall not take up</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Sword against nation;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They shall never again know</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>know </b>Cf. Judg. 3.2.</i> war;", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But every family shall sit</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Under its own vine and fig tree</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">With no one to disturb them.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For it was </span> G<small>OD</small> of Hosts who spoke.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Though all the peoples walk</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Each in the names of its gods,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">We will walk</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In the name of </span> the E<small>TERNAL</small> our God<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Forever and ever.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In that day</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAllDouble\">—declares </span> G<small>OD</small> —<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will assemble the lame [sheep]</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And will gather the outcast</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And those I have treated harshly;</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And I will turn the lame into a remnant</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the expelled</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">e</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>expelled </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields “weaklings”; cf. Ezek. 34.4.</i> into a populous nation.<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And </span> G<small>OD</small> will reign over them on Mount Zion<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Now and for evermore.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you, O Migdal-eder,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">f</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Migdal-eder </b>Apparently near Bethlehem; see Gen. 35.19–21.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Outpost of Fair Zion,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">It shall come to you:</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">g</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Outpost of Fair Zion, / It shall come to you </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The former monarchy shall return—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The kingship of Fair Jerusalem.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">h</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Fair Jerusalem </b>Emendation yields “the House of Israel”; cf. 5.1–2.</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Now why do you utter such cries?</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Is there no king in you,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Have your advisors perished,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">That you have been seized by writhing</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like a woman in travail?</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Writhe and scream,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">i</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>scream </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> Fair Zion,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like a woman in travail!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For now you must leave the city</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And dwell in the country—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you will reach Babylon.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">There you shall be saved,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">There </span> G<small>OD</small> will redeem you<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From the hands of your foes.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Indeed, many nations</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Have assembled against you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who think, “Let our eye</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Obscenely gaze</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">j</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Obscenely gaze </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> on Zion.”", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">But they do not know</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">G<small>OD</small>’s design</span>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They do not divine the intent:</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They have been gathered</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like cut grain to the threshing floor.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Up and thresh, Fair Zion!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For I will give you horns of iron</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And provide you with hoofs of bronze,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you will crush the many peoples.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">k</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>You </b>Heb. <i>-ti</i> serves here as the ending of the second-person singular feminine; cf. Judg. 5.7 and note; Jer. 2.20; etc.</i> will devote their riches to G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Their wealth to the Sovereign of all the earth.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Now you gash yourself in grief.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">l</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>in grief </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They have laid siege to us;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">They strike the ruler of Israel</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">On the cheek with a staff.</span>" | |
| ], | |
| [ | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you, O Bethlehem of Ephrath,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Ephrath </b>The clan to which the Bethlehemites belonged; see 1 Sam. 17.12; Ruth 1.2; 4.11.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Least among the clans of Judah,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From you one shall come forth</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To rule Israel for Me—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">One whose origin is from of old,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From ancient times.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of verse uncertain.</i> </span>Truly, [God] will leave them [helpless]<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Until she who is to bear has borne;</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>has borne </b>I.e., has given birth to a ruler, shepherd (v. 3), to deliver Israel from the Assyrians (vv. 4–5).</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Then the rest of his kindred</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shall return to the children of Israel.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">He shall stand and shepherd</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">By the might of </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">By the power of the name</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Of </span> the E<small>TERNAL</small> his God,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And they shall dwell [secure].</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For lo, he shall wax great</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To the ends of the earth;</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And that shall afford safety.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Should Assyria invade our land</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And tread upon our fortresses,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>fortresses </b>Septuagint and Syriac read “soil”; cf. v. 5.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">We will set up over that nation</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">e</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>that nation </b>Heb. “it.”</i> seven shepherds,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Eight princes of other nations,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">f</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>other nations </b>Lit. “human beings.”</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who will shepherd Assyria’s land with swords,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The land of Nimrod in its gates.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">g</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>in its gates </b>Emendation yields “with drawn blades”; cf. Ps. 37.14; 55.22.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Thus he will deliver [us]</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From Assyria, should it invade our land,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And should it trample our country.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The remnant of Jacob shall be,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In the midst of the many peoples,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like dew from </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like droplets on grass—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Which do not look to anybody</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Nor place their hope in mortals.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The remnant of Jacob</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shall be among the nations,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In the midst of the many peoples,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like a lion among beasts of the wild,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like a fierce lion among flocks of sheep,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Which tramples wherever it goes</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And rends, with none to deliver.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Your hand shall prevail over your foes,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And all your enemies shall be cut down!</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In that day</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAllDouble\">—declares </span> G<small>OD</small> —<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will destroy the horses in your midst</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And wreck your chariots.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will destroy the cities of your land</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And demolish all your fortresses.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will destroy the sorcery you practice,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you shall have no more soothsayers.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will destroy your idols</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the sacred pillars in your midst;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And no more shall you bow down</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To the work of your hands.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will tear down the sacred posts</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">h</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>sacred posts </b>Used in worship of the goddess Asherah.</i> in your midst<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And destroy your cities.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">i</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>cities </b>Emendation yields “idols.”</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In anger and wrath</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Will I wreak retribution</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">On the nations</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">j</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>nations </b>Emendation yields “arrogant.”</i> that have not obeyed." | |
| ], | |
| [ | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hear what </span> G<small>OD</small> is saying:<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Come, present [My] case before the mountains,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And let the hills hear you pleading.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hear, you mountains, G<small>OD</small>’s case— </span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You firm</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>You firm </b>Emendation yields “Give ear, you.”</i> foundations of the earth!<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For </span> G<small>OD</small> has a case against this covenanted people—<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">A suit against Israel.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“My people!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">What wrong have I done you?</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">What hardship have I caused you?</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Testify against Me.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In fact,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I brought you up from the land of Egypt,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I redeemed you from the house of bondage,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And I sent before you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“My people,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Remember what Balak king of Moab</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Plotted against you,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And how Balaam son of Beor</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Responded to him.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">[Recall your passage]</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From Shittim to Gilgal</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>From Shittim to Gilgal </b>I.e., the crossing of the Jordan; see Josh. 3.1, 14–4.19.</i> —<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you will recognize</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">G<small>OD</small>’s gracious acts.”</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">With what shall I approach </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Do homage to God on high?</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shall I approach with burnt offerings,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">With calves a year old?</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Would </span> G<small>OD</small> be pleased with thousands of rams,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">With myriads of streams of oil?</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shall I give my first-born for my transgression,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The fruit of my body for my sins?</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">“You have been told, O mortal, what is good,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And what </span> G<small>OD</small> requires of you:<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Only to do justice</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And to love goodness,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And to walk modestly with your God;</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>to walk modestly with your God </b>Or “it is prudent to serve your God.”</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Then will your name achieve wisdom.”</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Then will your name achieve wisdom </b>Emendation yields “And it is worthwhile to revere God’s name.”</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hark! </span> G<small>OD</small> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Summons the city:</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">e</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>the city </b>Apparently the capital of either the northern or southern kingdom.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Hear, O scepter;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For who can direct her </span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">but you?</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">f</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Hear … but you? </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Will I overlook,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">g</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>overlook </b>Taking <i>ʼish</i> as from <i>nashah</i> “to forget”; cf. Deut. 32.18.</i> in houses of the wicked,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The granaries of wickedness</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the accursed short </span> <i>ephah</i> ?<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">h</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>short ephah </b>Cf. Amos 8.4–5.</i> ", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Shall they</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">i</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>they </b>Heb. “I”; change of vocalization yields “Will I acquit them.”</i> be acquitted despite wicked balances<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And a bag of fraudulent weights?—</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">j</sup><i class=\"footnote\">This verse would read well after “city” in v. 9.</i> </span>Whose wealthy are full of lawlessness,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And whose inhabitants speak treachery,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">With tongues of deceit in their mouths.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I, in turn, have beaten you sore,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Have stunned [you] for your sins:</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have been eating without getting your fill,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And there is a gnawing at your vitals;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have been conceiving without bearing young,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">k</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>And there is a gnawing … bearing young </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And what you bore I would deliver to the sword.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have been sowing, but have nothing to reap;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You have trod olives, but have no oil for rubbing,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And grapes</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">l</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>grapes </b>Lit. “new wine.”</i> but have no wine to drink.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Yet you have kept</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">m</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>you have kept </b>Heb. “is kept.”</i> the laws of Omri,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And all the practices of the House of Ahab,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And have followed what they devised.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Therefore I will make you an object of horror</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the city’s</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">n</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>the city’s </b>Heb. “her”; cf. v. 9.</i> inhabitants an object of hissing;<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">o</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>hissing </b>See note at Jer. 18.16.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And you shall bear the mockery of peoples.</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">p</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>peoples </b>Heb. “My people.”</i> " | |
| ], | |
| [ | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Woe is me!</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>me </b>The speaker is feminine (cf. <i>ʼElohayikh</i>, v. 10), probably Samaria personified; cf. note at 6.16.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I am become like leavings of a fig harvest,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like gleanings when the vintage is over,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">There is not a cluster to eat,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Not a ripe fig I could desire.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The pious are vanished from the land,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">None upright are left among its people;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">All lie in wait to commit crimes,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Every last one traps the other in a net.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\"><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of verse uncertain.</i> </span>They are eager to do evil:<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The magistrate makes demands,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And the judge [judges] for a fee;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The rich one makes a crooked plea,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And they grant it.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The best of them is like a prickly shrub;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">The [most] upright, worse than a barrier of thorns.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">On the day you waited for,</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>On the day you waited for </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> your doom has come—<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Now their confusion shall come to pass.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Trust no friend,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Rely on no intimate;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Be guarded in speech</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">With her who lies in your bosom.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">For son spurns father,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Daughter rises up against mother,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Daughter-in-law against mother-in-law—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">A man’s own household</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Are his enemies.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Yet I will look to </span> G<small>OD</small>,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will wait for the God who saves me,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">My God will hear me.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Do not rejoice over me,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">O my enemy!</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>enemy </b>Heb. feminine, apparently referring to Damascus.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Though I have fallen, I rise again;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Though I sit in darkness, </span> G<small>OD</small> is my light.", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I must bear G<small>OD</small>’s anger</span>—<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Against whom I have sinned,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Until my cause is championed</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And my claim upheld.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will be brought out into the light;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will enjoy divine vindication.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">When my enemy</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">e</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>enemy </b>See note at v. 8.</i> sees it,<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">She shall be covered with shame,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">She who taunts me with “Where is this God of yours,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\"> the E<small>TERNAL</small> One </span>?”<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">My eyes shall behold her [downfall];</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Lo, she shall be for trampling</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like mud in the streets.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">A day for mending your walls</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">f</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>walls </b>To keep out tramplers (end of preceding verse); cf. Isa. 5.5; Ps. 80.13–14.</i> —<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">That is a far-off day.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">This is rather a day when to you</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">[Tramplers] will come streaming</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From Assyria and the towns of Egypt—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From [every land from] Egypt to the Euphrates,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">From sea to sea and from mountain to mountain—</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And your</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">g</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>your </b>Heb. “the.”</i> land shall become a desolation—<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Because of those who dwell in it—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">As the fruit of their misdeeds.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Oh, shepherd Your people with Your staff,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Your very own flock.</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">May they who dwell isolated</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In a woodland surrounded by farmland</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">h</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>In a woodland surrounded by farmland </b>I.e., the land west of the Jordan, which is represented as far less fertile than adjacent regions.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Graze</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">i</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Graze </b>Emendation yields “possess.”</i> Bashan and Gilead<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">As in olden days.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">I will show him</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">j</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>I will show him </b>Emendation yields “Show us.”</i> wondrous deeds<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">As in the days when You sallied forth from the land of Egypt.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let nations behold and be ashamed</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Despite all their might;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let them put hand to mouth;</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let their ears be deafened!</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let them lick dust like snakes,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Like crawling things on the ground!</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let them come trembling out of their strongholds</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">k</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Let them come trembling out of their strongholds </b>Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> <br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">To </span> the E<small>TERNAL</small> our God;<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Let them fear and dread You!</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Who is a God like You,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Forgiving iniquity</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">And remitting transgression—</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Not staying angry forever</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Toward the remnant of Your own people,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Because You</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">l</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Your…You </b>Heb. 3rd person.</i> love graciousness!", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">[God] will take us back in love,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Quashing</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">m</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>Quashing </b>Or, perhaps, “Forgiving,” as in Akkadian <i>kabasu</i>.</i> our iniquities.<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You will hurl all our</span><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">n</sup><i class=\"footnote\"><b>our </b>Heb. “their.”</i> sins<br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Into the depths of the sea.</span>", | |
| "<span class=\"poetry indentAll\">You will keep faith with Jacob,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">Loyalty to Abraham,</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">As You promised on oath to our fathers</span><br><span class=\"poetry indentAll\">In days gone by.</span>" | |
| ] | |
| ], | |
| "versions": [ | |
| [ | |
| "THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition", | |
| "https://jps.org/books/the-jps-tanakh-gender-sensitive-edition/" | |
| ] | |
| ], | |
| "heTitle": "מיכה", | |
| "categories": [ | |
| "Tanakh", | |
| "Prophets" | |
| ], | |
| "sectionNames": [ | |
| "Chapter", | |
| "Verse" | |
| ] | |
| } |