Micah’s Lament

Because of this I will lament and wail;
I will walk barefoot and naked.(A)
I will howl like the jackals(B)
and mourn like ostriches.[a]
For her wound is incurable(C)
and has reached even Judah;(D)
it has approached my people’s city gate,(E)
as far as Jerusalem.

10 Don’t announce it in Gath,(F)
don’t weep at all.
Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.
11 Depart in shameful nakedness,(G)
you residents of Shaphir;
the residents of Zaanan(H) will not come out.
Beth-ezel is lamenting;
its support[b] is taken from you.
12 Though the residents of Maroth
anxiously wait for something good,(I)
disaster has come from the Lord(J)
to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Harness the horses to the chariot,
you residents of Lachish.(K)
This was the beginning of sin for Daughter Zion
because Israel’s acts of rebellion(L) can be traced to you.
14 Therefore, send farewell gifts(M) to Moresheth-gath;
the houses of Achzib(N) are a deception(O)
to the kings of Israel.
15 I will again bring a conqueror
against you who live in Mareshah.(P)
The nobility[c] of Israel will come to Adullam.(Q)
16 Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair(R)
in sorrow for your precious children;
make yourselves as bald as an eagle,
for they have been taken from you into exile.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. 1:8 Or eagle owls; lit daughters of the desert
  2. 1:11 Lit its standing place; Hb obscure
  3. 1:15 Lit glory

The Doom of the Cities of Judah

For this I will lament and wail;
    I will go barefoot and naked;
I will make lamentation like the jackals
    and mourning like the ostriches.(A)
For her wound[a] is incurable.
    It has come to Judah;
it has reached to the gate of my people,
    to Jerusalem.(B)

10 Tell it not in Gath;
    weep not at all;
in Beth-leaphrah
    roll yourselves in the dust.(C)
11 Pass on your way,
    inhabitants of Shaphir,
    in nakedness and shame;
the inhabitants of Zaanan
    do not come forth;
Beth-ezel is wailing
    and shall remove its support from you.(D)
12 For the inhabitants of Maroth
    wait anxiously for good,
yet disaster has come down from the Lord
    to the gate of Jerusalem.(E)
13 Harness the steeds to the chariots,
    inhabitants of Lachish;
it was the beginning of sin
    to daughter Zion,
for in you were found
    the transgressions of Israel.(F)
14 Therefore you shall give parting gifts
    to Moresheth-gath;
the houses of Achzib shall be a deception
    to the kings of Israel.(G)
15 I will again bring a conqueror upon you,
    inhabitants of Mareshah;
the glory of Israel
    shall come to Adullam.(H)
16 Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair
    for your pampered children;
make yourselves as bald as the eagle,
    for they have gone from you into exile.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.9 Gk Syr Vg: Heb wounds