Micah 1:8–16

Micah Sobs Over His People

⁸I will sob and cry because Samaria will be destroyed.

I’ll walk around barefoot.

I won’t have anything on but my underwear.

I’ll bark like a wild dog.

I’ll hoot like an owl.

⁹Samaria’s wounds can’t be healed.

The Lord will also judge Judah.

Enemies will march up to the very gate of my people.

They will reach Jerusalem itself.

¹⁰Don’t tell the people of Gath about it.

Don’t let them see you sob.

People in Beth Ophrah, roll in the dust.

¹¹You who live in the town of Shaphir,

leave in shame and without your clothes.

Those who live in Zaanan

won’t come out to help you.

The people in Beth Ezel will sob.

They won’t be able to help keep you safe.

¹²Those who live in Maroth will groan with pain

as they wait for help.

That’s because the Lord will bring trouble on them.

It will reach the very gate of Jerusalem.

¹³You who live in Lachish,

get your horses ready to pull their chariots.

You trust in military power.

That was the beginning of sin

for the people of Zion.

The wrong things Israel did

were also done by you.

¹⁴People of Judah, you might as well say good-by

to Moresheth near Gath.

The town of Aczib won’t give any help

to the kings of Israel.

¹⁵An enemy will attack

you who live in Mareshah.

Israel’s glorious leaders will have to run away

and hide in the cave of Adullam.

¹⁶The children you enjoy so much

will be taken away as prisoners.

So shave your heads and sob.

Make them as bare as the head of a vulture.