Micah Chapter 1

1 The word of Jehovah that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear, ye peoples, all of you; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord Jehovah be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

3 For, behold, Jehovah 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 melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters that are poured down a steep place.

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 a heap of the field,

7 and as places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will uncover the foundations thereof.

8 And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her hires shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I lay desolate; for of the hire of a harlot hath she gathered them, and unto the hire of a harlot shall they return.

9 For this will I lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a lamentation like the ostriches.

10 For her wounds are incurable; for it is come even unto Judah; it reacheth unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

11 Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all: at Beth-le-aphrah have I rolled myself in the dust.

12 Pass away, O inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame: the inhabitant of Zaanan is not come forth; the wailing of Beth-ezel shall take from you the stay thereof.

13 For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good, because evil is come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem.

14 Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.

15 Therefore shalt thou give a parting gift to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing unto the kings of Israel.

16 I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.

darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

1 The word of Jehovah 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, ye peoples, all of you; hearken, O earth, and all that is therein: and let the Lord Jehovah be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple!

3 For behold, Jehovah 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 melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters poured down a steep place.

5 For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. Whence is the transgression of Jacob? is it not [from] Samaria? And whence are the high places of Judah? are they not [from] Jerusalem?

6 Therefore will I make Samaria as a heap of the field, as plantings of a vineyard; and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will lay bare the foundations thereof.

7 And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her harlot-gifts shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I make a desolation; for of the hire of a harlot hath she gathered [them], and to a harlot's hire shall they return.

8 For this will I lament, and I will howl; I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches.

9 For her wounds are incurable; for it is come even unto Judah, it reacheth unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

10 Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all; at Beth-le-aphrah roll thyself in the dust.

11 Pass away, inhabitress of Shaphir, in nakedness [and] shame. The inhabitress of Zaanan is not come forth for the lamentation of Beth-ezel: he will take from you its shelter.

12 For the inhabitress of Maroth waited anxiously for good; but evil hath come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem.

13 Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitress of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for in thee were found the transgressions of Israel.

14 Therefore shalt thou give parting-gifts to Moresheth-Gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.

15 I will yet bring unto thee an heir, O inhabitress of Mareshah; the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.

16 Make thee bald, and poll thee for the children of thy delights; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle, for they are gone into captivity from thee.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And the word of the Lord came to Michæas the son of Morasthi, in the days of Joatham, and Achaz, and Ezekias, kings of Juda, concerning what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear [these] words, ye people; and let the earth give heed, and all that are in it: and the Lord God shall be among you for a testimony, the Lord out of his holy habitation.

3 For, behold, the Lord comes forth out of his place, and will come down, and will go upon the high places of the earth.

4 And the mountains shall be shaken under him, and the valleys shall melt like wax before the fire, and as water rushing down a declivity.

5 All these [calamities are] for the transgression of Jacob, and for the sin of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? [is it] not Samaria? and what is the sin of the house of Juda? [is it] not Jerusalem?

6 Therefore I will make Samaria [as] a store-house of the fruits of the field, and [as] a planting of a vineyard: and I will utterly demolish her stones, and I will expose her foundations.

7 And they shall cut in pieces all the graven images, and all that she has hired they shall burn with fire, and I will utterly destroy all her idols: because she has gathered of the hires of fornication, and of the hires of fornication has she amassed [wealth].

8 Therefore shall she lament and wail, she shall go barefooted, and [being] naked she shall make lamentation as [that] of serpents, and mourning as of the daughters of sirens.

9 For her plague has become grievous; for it has come even to Juda; and has reached to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

10 Ye that are in Geth, exalt not yourselves, and ye Enakim, do not rebuild from [the ruins of] the house in derision: sprinkle dust [in the place of] your laughter.

11 The inhabitant of Sennaar, fairly inhabiting her cities, came not forth to mourn for the house next to her: she shall receive of you the stroke of grief.

12 Who has begun [to act] for good to her that dwells in sorrow? for calamities have come down from the Lord upon the gates of Jerusalem,

13 [even] a sound of chariots and horsemen: the inhabitants of Lachis, she is the leader of sin to the daughter of Sion: for in thee were found the transgressions of Israel.

14 Therefore shall he cause men to be sent forth as far as the inheritance of Geth, [even] vain houses; they are become vanity to the kings of Israel;

15 until they bring the heirs, O inhabitant of Lachis: the inheritance shall reach to Odollam, [even] the glory of the daughter of Israel.

16 Shave thine hair, and make thyself bald for thy delicate children; increase thy widowhood as an eagle; for [thy people] are gone into captivity from thee.

vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

1 Verbum Domini, quod factum est ad Michæam Morasthiten, in diebus Ioathan, Achaz, et Ezechiæ regum Iuda: quod vidit super Samariam, et Ierusalem.

2 Audite populi omnes, et attendat terra, et plenitudo eius: et sit Dominus Deus vobis in testem, Dominus de templo sancto suo.

3 Quia ecce Dominus egredietur de loco suo: et descendet, et calcabit super excelsa terræ.

4 Et consumentur montes subtus eum: et valles scindentur sicut cera a facie ignis, et sicut aquæ, quæ decurrunt in præceps.

5 In scelere Iacob omne istud, et in peccatis domus Israel. quod scelus Iacob? nonne Samaria? et quæ excelsa Iudæ? nonne Ierusalem?

6 et ponam Samariam quasi acervum lapidum in agro cum plantatur vinea: et detraham in vallem lapides eius, et fundamenta eius revelabo.

7 Et omnia sculptilia eius concidentur, et omnes mercedes eius comburentur igne, et omnia idola eius ponam in perditionem: quia de mercedibus meretricis congregata sunt, et usque ad mercedem meretricis revertentur.

8 Super hoc plangam, et ululabo: vadam spoliatus, et nudus: faciam planctum velut draconum, et luctum quasi struthionum.

9 Quia desperata est plaga eius, quia venit usque ad Iudam, tetigit portam populi mei usque ad Ierusalem.

10 In Geth nolite annunciare, lacrymis ne ploretis, in domo Pulveris pulvere vos conspergite.

11 Et transite vobis habitatio Pulchra, confusa ignominia: non est egressa quæ habitat in exitu: planctum Domus vicina accipiet ex vobis, quæ stetit sibimet.

12 Quia infirmata est in bonum, quæ habitat in amaritudinibus: quia descendit malum a Domino in portam Ierusalem.

13 Tumultus quadrigæ stuporis habitanti Lachis: principium peccati est filiæ Sion, quia in te inventa sunt scelera Israel.

14 Propterea dabit emissarios super hereditatem Geth: domus Mendacii in deceptionem regibus Israel.

15 Adhuc heredem adducam tibi quæ habitas in Maresa: usque ad Odollam veniet gloria Israel.

16 Decalvare, et tondere super filios deliciarum tuarum: dilata calvitium tuum sicut aquila: quoniam captivi ducti sunt ex te.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 The LORD’s word that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

2 Hear, you peoples, all of you! Listen, O earth, and all that is therein. Let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.

3 For behold, the LORD comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.

4 The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place.

5 “All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the disobedience of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Aren’t they Jerusalem?

6 Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.

7 All her idols will be beaten to pieces, all her temple gifts will be burned with fire, and I will destroy all her images; for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them, and to the hire of a prostitute shall they return.”

8 For this I will lament and wail. I will go stripped and naked. I will howl like the jackals and mourn like the ostriches.

9 For her wounds are incurable; for it has come even to Judah. It reaches to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.

10 Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t weep at all. At Beth Ophrah I have rolled myself in the dust.

11 Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame. The inhabitant of Zaanan won’t come out. The wailing of Beth Ezel will take from you his protection.

12 For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

14 Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath. The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel.

15 I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

16 Shave your heads, and cut off your hair for the children of your delight. Enlarge your baldness like the vulture, for they have gone into captivity from you!

ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

1 A word of Jehovah that hath been unto Micah the Morashite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, that he hath seen concerning Samaria and Jerusalem:

2 Hear, O peoples, all of them! Attend, O earth, and its fulness, And the Lord Jehovah is against you for a witness, The Lord from His holy temple.

3 For lo, Jehovah is going out from His place, And He hath come down, And hath trodden on high places of earth.

4 Melted have been the mountains under Him, And the valleys do rend themselves, As wax from the presence of fire, As waters cast down by a slope.

5 For the transgression of Jacob <FI>is<Fi> all this, And for the sins of the house of Israel. What <FI>is<Fi> the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what the high places of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?

6 And I have set Samaria for a heap of the field, For plantations of a vineyard, And poured out into a valley her stones, And her foundations I uncover.

7 And all her graven images are beaten down, And all her gifts are burnt with fire, And all her idols I make a desolation, For, from the hire of a harlot she gathered, and unto the hire of a harlot they return.

8 For this I lament and howl, I go spoiled and naked, I make a lamentation like dragons, And a mourning like daughters of an ostrich.

9 For mortal <FI>are<Fi> her wounds, For it hath come unto Judah, It hath come to a gate of My people--to Jerusalem.

10 In Gath tell ye not--in Acco weep not, In Beth-Aphrah, in dust roll thyself.

11 Pass over for thee, O inhabitant of Shaphir, Naked one of shame. Not gone out hath the inhabitant of Zaanan, The lamentation of Beth-Ezel doth take from you its standing.

12 For stayed for good hath the inhabitant of Maroth, For evil hath come down from Jehovah to the gate of Jerusalem.

13 Bind the chariot to a swift beast, O inhabitant of Lachish, The beginning of sin <FI>is<Fi> she to the daughter of Zion, For in thee have been found the transgressions of Israel.

14 Therefore thou givest presents to Moresheth-Gath, The houses of Achzib become a lying thing to the kings of Israel.

15 Yet the possessor I do bring in to thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, To Adullam come in doth the honour of Israel.

16 Make bald and shave, for thy delightful sons, Enlarge thy baldness as an eagle, For they have removed from thee!

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).