On that day—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
I will assemble the lame
and gather the scattered,(A)
those I have injured.
I will make the lame into a remnant,(B)
those far removed into a strong nation.
Then the Lord will reign over them(C) in Mount Zion
from this time on and forever.
And you, watchtower for the flock,(D)
fortified hill[a] of Daughter Zion,
the former rule(E) will come to you;
sovereignty will come to Daughter Jerusalem.

From Exile to Victory

Now, why are you shouting loudly?(F)
Is there no king with you?
Has your counselor perished(G)
so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
10 Writhe and cry out,[b](H) Daughter Zion,
like a woman in labor,
for now you will leave the city(I)
and camp in the open fields.
You will go to Babylon;
there you will be rescued;(J)
there the Lord will redeem you(K)
from the grasp of your enemies!
11 Many nations have now assembled against you;(L)
they say, “Let her be defiled,
and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
12 But they do not know the Lord’s intentions(M)
or understand his plan,
that he has gathered them
like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Rise and thresh,(N) Daughter Zion,
for I will make your horns iron
and your hooves bronze
so you can crush many peoples.(O)
Then you[c] will set apart their plunder(P)
for the Lord,
their wealth for the Lord of the whole earth.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:8 Or flock, Ophel
  2. 4:10 Hb obscure
  3. 4:13 LXX, Syr, Tg; MT reads I

“On that day,” declares the Lord,
“I will assemble those who (A)limp
And (B)gather the scattered,
Those whom I have afflicted.
I will make those who limp a (C)remnant,
And those who [a]have strayed a mighty nation,
And the (D)Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion
From now on and forever.
As for you, [b](E)tower of the flock,
[c]Hill of the daughter of Zion,
To you it will come—
Yes, the (F)former dominion will come,
The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

“Now, why do you (G)cry out loudly?
Is there no king among you,
Or has your (H)counselor perished,
That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?
10 (I)Writhe and scream,
Daughter of Zion,
Like a woman in childbirth;
For now you will (J)go out of the city,
Live in the field,
And go to Babylon.
(K)There you will be rescued,
(L)There the Lord will redeem you
From the hand of your enemies.
11 And now (M)many nations have been assembled against you
Who say, ‘Let her be defiled,
And let our eyes [d]gloat over Zion!’
12 But they do not (N)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 (O)thresh, daughter of Zion,
For I will make your horn iron,
And I will make your hoofs bronze,
So that you may (P)pulverize many peoples,
And (Q)dedicate to the Lord their unjust profit,
And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 4:7 Or are far removed
  2. Micah 4:8 Heb Migdal-eder
  3. Micah 4:8 Heb Ophel
  4. Micah 4:11 Lit see with pleasure