Micah 1:8–16

Weeping and Mourning

⁸Because of this I will weep^z and wail;

I will go about barefoot^a and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and moan like an owl.

⁹For Samaria’s plague^b is incurable;^c

it has spread to Judah.^d

It has reached the very gate^e of my people,

even to Jerusalem itself.

¹⁰Tell it not in Gath^a;

weep not at all.

In Beth Ophrah^b

roll in the dust.

¹¹Pass by naked^f and in shame,

you who live in Shaphir.^c

Those who live in Zaanan^d

will not come out.

Beth Ezel is in mourning;

it no longer protects you.

¹²Those who live in Maroth^e writhe in pain,

waiting for relief,^g

because disaster^h has come from the Lord,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

¹³You who live in Lachish,ⁱ

harness fast horses to the chariot.

You are where the sin of Daughter Zion^j began,

for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

¹⁴Therefore you will give parting gifts^k

to Moresheth^l Gath.

The town of Akzib^fm will prove deceptiveⁿ

to the kings of Israel.

¹⁵I will bring a conqueror against you

who live in Mareshah.^go

The nobles of Israel

will flee to Adullam.^p

¹⁶Shave^q your head in mourning

for the children in whom you delight;

make yourself as bald as the vulture,

for they will go from you into exile.^r