[1] The word of the Lord came to Micah. This was during the time of kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. These men were kings of Judah. Micah was from Moresheth. Micah saw ˻these visions˼ about Samaria and Jerusalem.
[2] Listen, all of you people! Earth and everyone on it, listen! My Master, the Lord, will come from his holy temple. My Master will come as a witness against you.
[3] See, the Lord is coming out of his place. He is coming down to walk on the high places of the earth.
[4] The mountains will melt under him like wax before a fire. The valleys will split open and flow like water down a steep hill.
[5] Why? Because of Jacob’s sin. Because of the sins of the nation of Israel. What caused Jacob to sin? It was Samaria! Where is the high place in Judah? It is Jerusalem!
[6] So I will change Samaria into a pile of rocks in the field, a place ready for planting grapes. I will push Samaria’s stones down into the valley, leaving nothing but the foundations!
[7] All her idols will be broken into pieces. Her prostitute’s wages ˻(idols)˼ will be burned in fire. I will destroy all her statues ˻of false gods˼. Why? Because Samaria got her riches by being unfaithful to me. So those things will be taken by people that are not faithful to me.
[8] I will be very sad about what will happen. I will go without shoes and clothes. I will cry like a dog. I will mourn like a bird.
[9] Samaria’s wound can’t be healed. Her disease ˻(sin)˼ has spread to Judah. It has reached the city gate of my people. It has spread all the way to Jerusalem.
[10] Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t cry in Acco. Roll yourself in the dust at Beth Ophrah.
[11] You people living in Shaphir, pass on your way, naked and ashamed. People living in Zaanan will not come out. The people in Beth Ezel will cry, and take its support from you.
[12] People living in Maroth become weak waiting for good ˻news to come˼. Why? Because trouble has come down from the Lord to the city gate of Jerusalem.
[13] Lady of Lachish, hitch ˻(tie)˼ a fast horse to the wagon. Zion’s sins started in Lachish. Why? Because you follow in Israel’s sins.
[14] So you must give goodbye gifts to Moresheth in Gath. The houses in Aczib will trick the kings of Israel.
[15] You people living in Mareshah, I will bring a person against you. That person will take the things you own. The Glory of Israel ˻(God)˼ will come into Adullam.
[16] So cut off your hair, make yourself bald. Why? Because ˻you will cry for˼ the children you love. Make yourself bald like an eagle ˻and show your sadness˼. Why? Because your children will be taken away from you.