Micah

Micah, chapter 4, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 4 New English Translation

Better Days Ahead for Jerusalem

   1 In the future the LORD's Temple Mount will be the most important mountain of all; it will be more prominent than other hills. People will stream to it.
   2 Many nations will come, saying, "Come on! Let's go up to the LORD's mountain, to the temple of Jacob's God, so he can teach us his commandsand we can live by his laws." For Zion will be the source of instruction; the LORD's teachings will proceed from Jerusalem.
   3 He will arbitrate between many peoples and settle disputes between many distant nations. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not use weapons against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.
   4 Each will sit under his own grapevine or under his own fig tree without any fear. The LORD who commands armies has decreed it.
   5 Though all the nations follow their respective gods, we will follow the LORD our God forever.

Restoration Will Follow Crisis

   6 "In that day," says the LORD, "I will gather the lame, and assemble the outcasts whom I injured.
   7 I will transform the lame into the nucleus of a new nation, and those far off into a mighty nation. The LORD will reign over them on Mount Zion, from that day forward and forevermore."
   8 As for you, watchtower for the flock, fortress of Daughter Zion - your former dominion will be restored, the sovereignty that belongs to Daughter Jerusalem.
   9 Jerusalem, why are you now shouting so loudly? Has your king disappeared? Has your wise leader been destroyed? Is this why pain grips you as if you were a woman in labor?
   10 Twist and strain, Daughter Zion, as if you were in labor! For you will leave the city and live in the open field. You will go to Babylon, but there you will be rescued. There the LORD will deliver you from the power of your enemies.
   11 Many nations have now assembled against you. They say, "Jerusalem must be desecrated, so we can gloat over Zion!"
   12 But they do not know what the LORD is planning; they do not understand his strategy. He has gathered them like stalks of grain to be threshed at the threshing floor.
   13 "Get up and thresh, Daughter Zion! For I will give you iron horns; I will give you bronze hooves, and you will crush many nations." You will devote to the LORD the spoils you take from them, and dedicate their wealth to the sovereign Ruler of the whole earth.

King James Version

   1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
   2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
   3 ¶ And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
   4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
   5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
   6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
   7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
   8 ¶ And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
   9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
   10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
   11 ¶ Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
   12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
   13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.