| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah--the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. | 1This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem: |
| 2Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. | 2Hear, O peoples, all of you; listen, O earth, and everyone in it! May the Lord GOD bear witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. |
| 3Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth. | 3For behold, the LORD comes forth from His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. |
| 4The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. | 4The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. |
| 5All this is because of Jacob's transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob's transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah's high place? Is it not Jerusalem? | 5All this is for the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? |
| 6"Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations. | 6Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble in the open field, a planting area for a vineyard. I will pour her stones into the valley and expose her foundations. |
| 7All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used." | 7All her carved images will be smashed to pieces; all her wages will be burned in the fire, and I will destroy all her idols. Since she collected the wages of a prostitute, they will be used again on a prostitute. |
| 8Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. | 8Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. |
| 9For Samaria's plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself. | 9For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself. |
| 10Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust. | 10Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah. |
| 11Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir. Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you. | 11Depart in shameful nakedness, O dwellers of Shaphir. The dwellers of Zaanan will not come out. Beth-ezel is in mourning; its support is taken from you. |
| 12Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. | 12For the dwellers of Maroth pined for good, but calamity came down from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. |
| 13You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. | 13Harness your chariot horses, O dweller of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. |
| 14Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel. | 14Therefore, send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel. |
| 15I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam. | 15I will again bring a conqueror against you, O dweller of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam. |
| 16Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile. | 16Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair in mourning for your precious children; make yourselves as bald as an eagle, for they will go from you into exile. |
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