Dual Panel1This is the prophetic message <01697> that <0834> the Lord <03068> gave <01961> to <0413> Micah <04318> of Moresheth <04183>. He delivered this message during the reigns <03117> of Jotham <03147>, Ahaz <0271>, and Hezekiah <02396>, kings <04428> of Judah <03063>. The prophecies pertain <02372> to <05921> Samaria <08111> and Jerusalem <03389>.
2Listen <08085>, all <03605> you nations <05971>! Pay attention <07181>, all inhabitants <04393> of earth <0776>! The sovereign <0136> Lord <03069> will testify <05707> against you; the Lord <0136> will accuse you from his majestic <06944> palace <01964>.
3Look <02009>, the Lord <03068> is coming out <03318> of his dwelling place <04725>! He will descend <03381> and march <01869> on <05921> the earth’s <0776> mountaintops <01116>!
4The mountains <02022> will disintegrate <04549> beneath <08478> him, and the valleys <06010> will be split in two <01234>. The mountains will melt like wax <01749> in <06440> a fire <0784>, the rocks will slide down like water <04325> cascading down <05064> a steep slope <04174>.
5All <03605> this <02063> is because of Jacob’s <03290> rebellion <06588> and the sins <02403> of the nation <01004> of Israel <03478>. How <04310> has Jacob <03290> rebelled, you ask? Samaria <08111> epitomizes their rebellion <06588>! Where <04310> are Judah’s <03063> pagan worship centers <01116>, you ask? They are right in Jerusalem <03389>!
6“I will turn <07760> Samaria <08111> into a heap of ruins <05856> in an open field <07704>– vineyards <03754> will be planted <04302> there! I will tumble <05064> the rubble of her stone <068> walls down into the valley <01516>, and tear down <01540> her fortifications to their foundations <03247>.
7All <03605> her carved idols <06456> will be smashed <03807> to pieces; all <03605> her metal cult statues <0868> will be destroyed <08313> by fire <0784>. I will make <07760> a waste heap <08077> of all <03605> her images <06091>. Since <03588> she gathered <06908> the metal as a prostitute <02181> collects her wages <0868>, the idols will become a prostitute’s <02181> wages <0868> again <07725>.”
8For <05921> this <02063> reason I will mourn <05594> and wail <03213>; I will walk <01980> around barefoot <07758> and without my outer garments <06174>. I will howl <04553> like a wild dog <08577>, and screech <060> like an owl <03284> <01323>.
9For <03588> Samaria’s disease <04347> is incurable <0605>. It has infected <05704> <0935> Judah <03063>; it has spread <05060> to <05704> the leadership <08179> of my people <05971> and has even <05704> contaminated Jerusalem <03389>!
10Don’t <0408> spread <05046> the news <05046> in Gath <01661>! Don’t <0408> shed even a single tear <01058> <01058>! In Beth Leaphrah <01036> sit <06428> in the dust <06083>!
11Residents <03427> of Shaphir <08208>, pass <05674> by in nakedness <06181> and humiliation <01322>! The residents <03427> of Zaanan <06630> can’t <03808> leave <03318> their city. Beth Ezel <01018> mourns <05594>, “He takes <03947> from <04480> you what he desires <05979>.”
12Indeed <03588>, the residents <03427> of Maroth <04796> hope for something <02470> good <02896> to happen <02470>, though <03588> the Lord <03069> has sent <03381> disaster <07451> against the city <08179> of Jerusalem <03389>.
13Residents <03427> of Lachish <03923>, hitch <07573> the horses <07409> to the chariots <04818>! You influenced <07225> Daughter <01323> Zion <06726> to sin <02403>, for <03588> Israel’s <03478> rebellious deeds <06588> can be traced back <04672> to you!
14Therefore <03651> you will have to say <05414> farewell <07964> to Moresheth Gath <04182>. The residents <01004> of Achzib <0392> will be as disappointing <0391> as a dried up well to the kings <04428> of Israel <03478>.
15Residents <03427> of Mareshah <04762>, a conqueror <03423> will attack <0935> you, the leaders <03519> of Israel <03478> shall flee <0935> to Adullam <05725>.
16Shave <01494> your heads bald <07139> as you mourn for <05921> the children <01121> you love <08588>; shave <07337> your foreheads <07337> as bald <07144> as an eagle <05404>, for <03588> they are taken <01540> from <04480> you into exile <01540>.