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12 The inhabitants of Maroth
    hope for good,
But evil has come down from the Lord
    to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Harness steeds to the chariots,
    inhabitants of Lachish;
You are the beginning of sin
    for daughter Zion,
For in you were found
    the crimes of Israel.
14 Therefore you must give back the dowry
    to Moresheth-gath;
The houses of Achzib[a] are a dry stream bed
    to the kings of Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:14 The houses of Achzib: there is a wordplay here. In the Hebrew, the word translated here as “dry stream bed” is ’achzab; this word is sometimes translated as “deception” or “disappointment.”

12 Those who live in Maroth[a] writhe in pain,
    waiting for relief,(A)
because disaster(B) has come from the Lord,
    even to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 You who live in Lachish,(C)
    harness fast horses to the chariot.
You are where the sin of Daughter Zion(D) began,
    for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
14 Therefore you will give parting gifts(E)
    to Moresheth(F) Gath.
The town of Akzib[b](G) will prove deceptive(H)
    to the kings of Israel.

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 1:12 Maroth sounds like the Hebrew for bitter.
  2. Micah 1:14 Akzib means deception.