Micah 4:6-13
Expanded Bible
6 The Lord says, “·At that time [L In that day],
I will gather the ·crippled [lame];
I will ·bring together [assemble; gather] ·those who were sent away [the outcast/exile],
those whom I ·caused to have trouble [afflicted; filled with grief].
7 I will ·keep alive those who were crippled [make the lame a remnant],
and I will make a strong nation of those who were ·sent away [outcasts; exiles].
The Lord will ·be their king [reign over them] in Mount Zion from now on and forever.
8 And you, ·watchtower of the flocks [or Migdal-eder], ·hill [or stronghold] of ·Jerusalem [L Daughter Zion],
to you ·will come the kingdom [dominion will be restored] as in the past.
·Jerusalem [L Daughter Jerusalem], the ·right to rule [kingship; sovereignty] will come again to you.”
Why the Israelites Must Go to Babylon
9 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].”
12 But they don’t know
·what the Lord is thinking [the thoughts of the Lord];
they don’t understand his plan.
He has gathered them like ·bundles of grain [sheaves] to the threshing floor.
13 “Get up and ·beat them [thresh], ·people of Jerusalem [Daughter Zion].
I will make you ·strong as if you had horns of iron [horns of iron]
and hoofs of bronze.
You will beat many nations into small pieces
and ·give [devote; consecrate] their ·wealth [gains; spoils] to the Lord,
their ·treasure [wealth] to the Lord of all the earth.”
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