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Why the Israelites Must Go to Babylon

Now, why do you cry so loudly?
    ·Is your king gone [Have you no king/King; C either a human king or God]?
Have you lost your ·helper [counselor; wise guide],
    so that you are in pain, like a woman ·trying to give birth [in labor]?
10 ·People of Jerusalem [L Daughter Zion], ·strain and be in pain [writhe and groan].
    Be like a woman ·trying to give birth [in labor],
because now you must leave the city
    and live in the field.
You will go to Babylon,
    but you will be ·saved [rescued] from that place.
The Lord will go there
    and ·buy you back [redeem you] from [L the hand of] your enemies.

11 But now many nations
    have ·come to fight [gathered; assembled] against you,
saying, “·Let’s destroy Jerusalem [L Let her be defiled/desecrated].
    We will ·look at her and be glad we have defeated [gloat over; L let our eye look upon] ·her [L Zion].”

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Why do you now cry aloud—
    have you no king[a](A)?
Has your ruler[b] perished,
    that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?(B)
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;(C)
    there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem(D) 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(E) over Zion!”

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 4:9 Or King
  2. Micah 4:9 Or Ruler