1 Dette er Herrens ord som kom til Mika fra Moreset i de dager da Jotam, Akas og Esekias var konger i Juda, det som han skuet om Samaria og Jerusalem. 2 Hør, I folk, alle sammen! Gi akt, du jord med alt som på dig er! Og Herren, Israels Gud, være vidne mot eder, Herren fra sitt hellige tempel! 3 For se, Herren går ut fra sin bolig; han stiger ned og farer frem over jordens høider. 4 Fjellene smelter under ham, og dalene revner(-)som voks for ilden, som vann når det øses ut over et stup. 5 For Jakobs frafall skjer alt dette, for de synder Israels hus har gjort. Hvem er ophavet til Jakobs frafall? Mon ikke Samaria? Og hvem til Judas offerhauger? Mon ikke Jerusalem? 6 Så vil jeg da gjøre Samaria til en grusdynge på marken, til et sted for vindyrkning, og jeg vil velte dets stener ned i dalen og avdekke dets grunnvoller. 7 Og alle dets utskårne billeder skal sønderslås, og alle dets horegaver brennes op med ild, og alle dets avgudsbilleder vil jeg ødelegge; for av horelønn har det samlet dem, og til horelønn skal de atter bli.

8 Over dette vil jeg klage og hyle, jeg vil gå barbent og naken; jeg vil opløfte klageskrik som sjakalene og jamre mig som strutsene.

9 For dets sår er ulægelige; for ulykken er kommet like til Juda, den har nådd like til mitt folks port, til Jerusalem. 10 Forkynn det ikke i Gat, gråt ikke der! I Bet-Leafra velter jeg mig i støvet.

11 Dra bort, {i landflyktighet} I Sjafirs innbyggere, i nakenhet og vanære! Sa’nans innbyggere våger sig ikke ut. Bet-Haesels klageskrik gjør det umulig for eder å bli der. 12 For Marots innbyggere vrir sig i smerte over sin tapte lykke; for ulykke er faret ned fra Herren, like til Jerusalems port. 13 Spenn traveren for vognen, I innbyggere av Lakis! Syndens ophav var du {Lakis.} for Sions datter, for hos dig blev Israels overtredelser funnet. 14 Derfor skal du gi avkall på Moreset-Gat; husene i Aksib blir som en sviktende bekk for Israels konger. 15 Ennu en gang skal jeg la eder få en eiermann, I Maresas innbyggere! Til Adullam skal Israels stormenn komme. 16 Gjør dig skallet, klipp håret vekk for dine barns skyld, de som var din lyst! Gjør ditt hode så skallet som gribbens, for de er ført bort fra dig.

1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. 2 Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.*1.2 all ye…: Heb. ye people, all of them*1.2 all that…: Heb. the fulness thereof 3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. 4 And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.*1.4 a steep…: Heb. a descent 5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem? 6 Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof. 7 And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.

8 Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.*1.8 owls: Heb. daughters of the owl 9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.*1.9 her…: or, she is grievously sick of her wounds

10 Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.*1.10 Aphrah: that is, Dust 11 Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall receive of you his standing.*1.11 thou…: or, thou that dwellest fairly*1.11 inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress*1.11 Zaanan: or, The country of flocks*1.11 Beth-ezel: or, A place near 12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.*1.12 inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress*1.12 waited…: or, was grieved 13 O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.*1.13 inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress 14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.*1.14 to…: or, for Moresheth-gath*1.14 Achzib: that is, A lie 15 Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.*1.15 inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress*1.15 he…: or, the glory of Israel shall, etc 16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.