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God's mountain

4 In the last days,
the mountain where the Lord 's house is will be the highest mountain.
It will be the most important of all the mountains.
It will be higher than the hills,
and people from many countries will go to it.
2 Many people will speak about it.
‘Come! We will go up to the Lord 's mountain,’ they will say.
‘We will go to the Lord 's house because he is the God of Jacob's people.
He will teach us what he wants us to do.
He will show us the right way; so then we will be able to obey him.
The Lord will speak his rules from Zion.
He will send out his message from Jerusalem.’
3 He will judge between the people of many nations
When they argue together, he will decide who is right.
He will cause strong nations everywhere to stop fighting each other.
They fight with swords and spears. [ a ]
But at that time, they will make their swords into ploughs.
They will make their spears into knives to cut their vines.
Nations will no longer need weapons to fight each other.
They will never prepare to fight wars again.
4 Everyone will sit under his own vine and his own fig tree. [ b ]
Nobody will make them afraid any longer. [ c ]
The Lord Almighty has promised this.
5 People from other countries may be the servants of other gods.
But we will be servants of the Lord our God.
We will obey him always.

God will make Israel and Jerusalem strong again

6 The Lord speaks again:

‘At that time I will bring together the people who cannot walk well.
I will bring back the people that I sent away.
I caused trouble for those people,
but I will bring them back together.
7 I will make a new beginning with those people who cannot walk well.
Together with some of those people that I sent far away,
I will make them my own special people.
They will be strong,
and I will rule over them from Mount Zion.
I will be their king from that time and always.
8 And as for Jerusalem,
it was a strong, safe place for Zion's people.
It was like a tall building,
from which a man can watch over his sheep.
Then it will again be a place where a king rules with great authority.’
9 You people in Jerusalem,
you are crying aloud like people who have no king.
You cry like people who have no wise leader. [ d ]
You have bad pains like a woman who is giving birth to a baby.
10 People in Zion, you will have a lot of pain,
like a woman who is giving birth to a baby.
She rolls about and she screams with pain.
Soon you will have to leave your city and you will have to live in the fields.
You will have to go to Babylon,
but there the Lord will save you.
He will make you free again from the authority of your enemies.
11 But now, at this time, many countries have come together to attack your city.
They say: ‘We will destroy Jerusalem and we will enjoy ourselves.
We want to see Zion's people in trouble.’
12 But they do not know the Lord 's thoughts.
They do not understand how he will punish them.
He will bring them together,
as people bring bundles of wheat together at harvest time. [ e ]
He will punish them,
as people thresh wheat to get the seeds out. [ f ]
13 ‘People in Zion, get up and fight your enemies,’ God says to you.
‘Hit them like people thresh the wheat.
I will make you very strong.
Then you will be like dangerous animals with iron horns and metal feet. [ g ]
You will beat enemies from many countries,
as men crush things into small pieces.
The people from those countries became rich,
because they did bad things.
But you will bring their riches to me,
because I am the Lord of all the earth.’ [ h ]

Footnotes

  1. 4:3 A spear is a long piece of wood or metal with a sharp point at the end. Soldiers used spears to fight.
  2. 4:4 Vines or grapevines are plants that climb. They have small, sweet fruits called grapes.
  3. 4:4 Micah says that everyone in the world will feel safe and happy at this future time. There will be no more wars, and they will have plenty of food.
  4. 4:9 The king in Jerusalem had failed to rule the people well. He had not asked God to show him what to do. So the people were very sad and afraid.
  5. 4:12 A bundle is many things that people have tied together (like wheat plants).
  6. 4:12 Wheat is a kind of plant that people grow on farms. They use the seeds to make flour for bread. To thresh means to hit wheat on the ground to get the seeds out.
  7. 4:13 Horns are things like sticks that grow on the top of some animals' heads, like cows and some sheep. Horns have points at their ends.
  8. 4:13 Verses 9-13 These verses tell what will happen to Jerusalem and Israel in future days. They tell about enemies who will come soon (from Assyria). And they tell about enemies who will come later (from Babylon). But they tell also how God will save his people.

The Law Will Come From Jerusalem

4 In the last days the mountain of the Lord ’s Temple
will be on the highest of all mountains.
It will be raised higher than the hills.
There will be a steady stream of people going there.
2 People from many nations will go there and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord ,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob.
Then God will teach us his way of living,
and we will follow him.”

His teaching, the Lord ’s message, will begin in Jerusalem on Mount Zion
and will go out to all the world.
3 Then God will act as judge to end arguments between people in many places.
He will decide what is right for great nations far and near.
They will stop using their weapons for war.
They will hammer their swords into plows
and use their spears to make tools for harvesting.
All fighting between nations will end.
They will never again train for war.
4 They will sit under their own
grapevine and fig tree.
No one will make them afraid.
That is because the Lord All-Powerful said it would happen like that.

5 All the people from other nations follow their own gods,
but we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever! [ a ]

The Kingdom to Be Brought Back

6 The Lord says,
“Jerusalem was hurt and crippled.
She was thrown away.
She was hurt and punished,
but I will bring her back to me.

7 “The people of that ‘crippled’ city
will be the only ones left alive.
They were forced to leave,
but I will make them into a strong nation.”
The Lord will be their king.
He will rule from Mount Zion forever.
8 And you, Tower of Flocks, [ b ]
your time will come.
Ophel, hill of Zion,
you will again have the right to rule.
Yes, the kingdom will be in Jerusalem
as it was in the past.

Why Must the Israelites Go to Babylon?

9 Now, why are you crying so loudly?
Is your king gone?
Have you lost your wise leader?
Is that why you are suffering like a woman in labor?
10 Cry out, you people of Jerusalem, [ c ] and feel the pain,
as if you were giving birth.
You must go out of the city
and live in the fields.
You will go away to Babylon,
but you will also be saved from that place.
The Lord will come and rescue you there.
He will take you away from your enemies.

The Lord Will Destroy the Other Nations

11 Many nations have come to fight against you.
They say, “Look, there is Zion!
Let’s attack her!”

12 They have their plans,
but they don’t know what the Lord is planning.
He brought them here for a special purpose.
They will be crushed like grain on a threshing floor.

Israel Will Defeat Its Enemies

13 “People of Jerusalem, get up and crush them!
I will make you very strong.
It will be as if you have horns of iron and hooves of bronze.
You will beat many people into small pieces.
You will give their wealth to the Lord .
You will give their treasure to the Lord of all the earth.”

Footnotes

  1. Micah 4:5 Or “All the nations will walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God, forever and ever!”
  2. Micah 4:8 Tower of Flocks Or “Migdal Eder.” This probably means a part of Jerusalem. The leaders would be like shepherds in a tower watching their sheep.
  3. Micah 4:10 people of Jerusalem Literally, “daughter Zion,” a name for Jerusalem. Also in verse 13. See “ Zion ” in the Word List.

4 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

6 In that day, saith the Lord , will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

12 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord , neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord , and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

Peaceful Latter Days

4 And it will come about in the ( A ) last days
That the ( B ) mountain of the house of the Lord
Will be established [ a ] as the chief of the mountains.
It will be raised above the hills,
And the ( C ) peoples will stream to it.
2 ( D ) Many nations will come and say,
“ ( E ) Come and let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord
And to the house of the God of Jacob,
So that ( F ) He may teach us about His ways,
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For ( G ) from Zion will go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 And He will ( H ) judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, [ b ] distant nations.
Then they will beat their swords ( I ) into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift a sword against nation,
And never again will they [ c ] train for war.
4 Instead, each of them will ( J ) sit under his vine
And under his fig tree,
With ( K ) no one to make them afraid,
Because the ( L ) mouth of the Lord of armies has spoken.
5 Though all the peoples walk,
Each in the ( M ) name of his god,
As for us, ( N ) we will walk
In the name of the ( O ) Lord our God forever and ever.

6 “On that day,” declares the Lord ,
“I will assemble those who ( P ) limp
And ( Q ) gather the scattered,
Those whom I have afflicted.
7 I will make those who limp a ( R ) remnant,
And those who [ d ] have strayed a mighty nation,
And the ( S ) Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion
From now on and forever.
8 As for you, [ e ] ( T ) tower of the flock,
[ f ] Hill of the daughter of Zion,
To you it will come—
Yes, the ( U ) former dominion will come,
The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 “Now, why do you ( V ) cry out loudly?
Is there no king among you,
Or has your ( W ) counselor perished,
That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?
10 ( X ) Writhe and scream,
Daughter of Zion,
Like a woman in childbirth;
For now you will ( Y ) go out of the city,
Live in the field,
And go to Babylon.
( Z ) There you will be rescued,
( AA ) There the Lord will redeem you
From the hand of your enemies.
11 And now ( AB ) many nations have been assembled against you
Who say, ‘Let her be defiled,
And let our eyes [ g ] gloat over Zion!’
12 But they do not ( AC ) know the thoughts of the Lord ,
And they do not understand His plan;
For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Arise and ( AD ) thresh, daughter of Zion,
For I will make your horn iron,
And I will make your hoofs bronze,
So that you may ( AE ) pulverize many peoples,
And ( AF ) dedicate to the Lord their unjust profit,
And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Micah 4:1 Lit on
  2. Micah 4:3 Lit at a distance
  3. Micah 4:3 Lit learn
  4. Micah 4:7 Or are far removed
  5. Micah 4:8 Heb Migdal-eder
  6. Micah 4:8 Heb Ophel
  7. Micah 4:11 Lit see with pleasure

The Mountain of the Lord ( A )

4 In the last days

the mountain ( B ) of the Lord ’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills, ( C )
and peoples will stream to it. ( D )

2 Many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord , ( E )
to the temple of the God of Jacob. ( F )
He will teach us ( G ) his ways, ( H )
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law ( I ) will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 He will judge between many peoples
and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. ( J )
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks. ( K )
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war ( L ) anymore. ( M )
4 Everyone will sit under their own vine
and under their own fig tree, ( N )
and no one will make them afraid, ( O )
for the Lord Almighty has spoken. ( P )
5 All the nations may walk
in the name of their gods, ( Q )
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
our God for ever and ever. ( R )

The Lord ’s Plan

6 “In that day,” declares the Lord ,

“I will gather the lame; ( S )
I will assemble the exiles ( T )
and those I have brought to grief. ( U )
7 I will make the lame my remnant, ( V )
those driven away a strong nation. ( W )
The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion ( X )
from that day and forever. ( Y )
8 As for you, watchtower of the flock,
stronghold [ a ] of Daughter Zion,
the former dominion will be restored ( Z ) to you;
kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem. ( AA ) ”

9 Why do you now cry aloud—
have you no king [ b ] ( AB ) ?
Has your ruler [ c ] perished,
that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor? ( AC )
10 Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion,
like a woman in labor,
for now you must leave the city
to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon; ( AD )
there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem ( AE ) you
out of the hand of your enemies.

11 But now many nations
are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
let our eyes gloat ( AF ) over Zion!”
12 But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord ;
they do not understand his plan, ( AG )
that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 “Rise and thresh, ( AH ) Daughter Zion,
for I will give you horns of iron;
I will give you hooves of bronze,
and you will break to pieces many nations.” ( AI )
You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the Lord , ( AJ )
their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Micah 4:8 Or hill
  2. Micah 4:9 Or King
  3. Micah 4:9 Or Ruler
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