Micah, 4

1. In days to come the mount of the LORD'S house Shall be established higher than the mountains; it shall rise high above the hills, And peoples shall stream to it:

1. But in days to come Yahweh's Temple Mountain will tower above the mountains, rise higher than the hills.

2. Many nations shall come, and say, "Come, let us climb the mount of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, that we may walk in his paths." For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

2. Then the peoples will stream to it, then many nations will come and say, 'Come, we will go up to Yahweh's mountain, to the Temple of the God of Jacob, so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths; for the Law issues from Zion and Yahweh's word from Jerusalem.'

3. He shall judge between many peoples and impose terms on strong and distant nations; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.

3. He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate between mighty nations. They will hammer their swords into ploughshares and their spears into bill-hooks. Nation will not lift sword against nation or ever again be trained to make war.

4. Every man shall sit under his own vine or under his own fig tree, undisturbed; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

4. But each man will sit under his vine and fig tree with no one to trouble him. The mouth of Yahweh Sabaoth has spoken.

5. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, But we will walk in the name of the LORD, our God, forever and ever.

5. For all peoples go forward, each in the name of its god, while we go forward in the name of Yahweh our God for ever and ever.

6. On that day, says the LORD, I will gather the lame, And I will assemble the outcasts, and those whom I have afflicted.

6. That day -- declares Yahweh- I shall gather in the lame and bring together the strays and those whom I have treated harshly.

7. I will make of the lame a remnant, and of those driven far off a strong nation; And the LORD shall be king over them on Mount Zion, from now on forever.

7. From the footsore I shall make a remnant, and from the far-flung a mighty nation. And Yahweh will reign over them on Mount Zion thenceforth and for ever.

8. And you, O Magdal-eder, hillock of daughter Zion! Unto you shall it come: the former dominion shall be restored, the kingdom of daughter Jerusalem.

8. And to you, Tower of the Flock, Ophel of the daughter of Zion, to you your former sovereignty will return, the royal power of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9. Now why do you cry out so? Are you without a king? Or has your counselor perished, That you are seized with pains like a woman in travail?

9. Why are you crying out now? Have you no king? Has your counsellor perished, for pangs to grip you like those of a woman in labour?

10. Writhe in pain, grow faint, O daughter Zion, like a woman in travail; For now shall you go forth from the city and dwell in the fields; To Babylon shall you go, there shall you be rescued. There shall the LORD redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

10. Writhe in pain and cry aloud, daughter of Zion, like a woman in labour, for now you must leave the city and camp in the open country; to Babylon you must go, and there you will be rescued; there Yahweh will ransom you from the clutches of your enemies.

11. How many nations are gathered against you! They say, "Let her be profaned, let our eyes see Zion's downfall!"

11. Now many nations have mustered against you. They say, 'Let us desecrate her, let us gloat over Zion!'

12. But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, nor understand his counsel, When he has gathered them like sheaves on the threshing floor.

12. But they do not know Yahweh's thoughts, they do not understand his design: he has collected them like sheaves on the threshing-floor.

13. Arise and thresh, O daughter Zion; your horn I will make iron And your hoofs bronze, that you may crush many peoples; You shall devote their spoils to the LORD, and their riches to the Lord of the whole earth.

13. Start your threshing, daughter of Zion, for I shall make your horn like iron, I shall make your hooves like bronze, so that you can crush many peoples. And you will devote what they have stolen to Yahweh, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

14. Now fence yourself in, Bat-gader! "They have laid siege against us!" With the rod they strike on the cheek the ruler of Israel.

14. Now look to your fortifications, Fortress! They have laid siege to us; the ruler of Israel will be struck on the cheek with a rod.