Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Jonah is a very fascinating book of the Bible. It can seem a very simple story to some, yet there lies interesting details that are often overlooked. It is interesting to realize that the sailors on board the ship likely became saved individuals as a direct result of this event. Sailors were never known to be the most charming of individuals. The fact that they were totally scared seems to indicate a storm of catastrophic proportions unlike any they ever witnessed before. They even try to save Jonah by possibly beaching the ship, believing the ship was doomed anyway. No one throws away precious cargo unless they truly felt there were no other possible options.

Jonah 1:1-17

The word of the Lord came to Amittai's son Jonah,

“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and proclaim to it that their wickedness comes to My attention.”

However, Jonah, in order to run from the Lord, prepared to escape to Tarshish. He traveled down to Jappa, finding a ship headed for Tarshish, paid the fare and boarded, intending to travel with them to Tarshish and escape the Lord's sight.

However, the Lord let loose a violent wind over the sea, which created such stormy conditions that the ship threatened to break apart.

The sailors were in a panic, and each cried out to his god. They tossed the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down below deck into the hold, where he lay, fast asleep.

The ship’s captain found him and said to him, “What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call to your god! Maybe the god will remember we're here, and we won’t die."

Then they said to each other, “Come, let’s draw lots to find out who is to blame for this calamity.” They drew lots, and Jonah was singled out.

They said to him, “Tell us immediately, why has this calamity come upon us? What's your occupation? Where are you from? What's your country? Which is your people?”

He answered them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made both the sea and the dry land.”

At this information the men grew very scared and said to him, “What have you done?” For the men realized he was trying to escape from the Lord, since he had told them.

They asked him, “What should we do to you, so that the sea will be calm for us?” — for the sea was getting worse and worse by the moment.

“Lift me up,” he told them, “and toss me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; because I know it’s my fault that this terrible storm has come over you.”

Nevertheless, the men rowed hard, trying to reach the shore. But they couldn’t, because the sea kept raging worse fighting them.

Finally they cried out to the LORD, “Please, LORD, please! Don’t let us die for causing the death of this man, and don’t hold us responsible for shedding innocent blood; because You, LORD, have done what You decided.”

Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped raging.

Possessed with a great fear of the LORD, they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

And Jehovah furnished a giant fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah remained the depth of the fish three days and three nights.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jonah son of Amittai, saying:

2 `Rise, go unto Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim against it that their wickedness hath come up before Me.'

3 And Jonah riseth to flee to Tarshish from the face of Jehovah, and goeth down [to] Joppa, and findeth a ship going [to] Tarshish, and he giveth its fare, and goeth down into it, to go with them to
Tarshish from the face of Jehovah.

4 And Jehovah hath cast a great wind on the sea, and there is a great tempest in the sea, and the ship hath reckoned to be broken;

5 and the mariners are afraid, and cry each unto his god, and cast the goods that [are] in the ship into the sea, to make [it] light of them; and Jonah hath gone down unto the sides of the vessel, and he
lieth down, and is fast asleep.

6 And the chief of the company draweth near to him, and saith to him, `What -- to thee, O sleeper? rise, call unto thy God, it may be God doth bethink himself of us, and we do not perish.'

7 And they say each unto his neighbour, `Come, and we cast lots, and we know on whose account this evil [is] on us.' And they cast lots, and the lot falleth on Jonah.

8 And they say unto him, `Declare to us, we pray thee, on what account this evil [is] on us? what [is] thine occupation, and whence comest thou? what [is] thy country, seeing thou art not of this people?'

9 And he saith unto them, `A Hebrew I [am], and Jehovah, God of the heavens, I am reverencing, who made the sea and the dry land.'

10 And the men fear a great fear, and say unto him, `What [is] this thou hast done!' for the men have known that from the face of Jehovah he is fleeing, for he hath told them.

11 And they say unto him, `What do we do to thee that the sea may cease from us, for the sea is more and more tempestuous?'

12 And he saith unto them, `Lift me up, and cast me into the sea, and the sea doth cease from you; for I know that on my account this great tempest [is] upon you.'

13 And the men row to turn back unto the dry land, and are not able, for the sea is more and more tempestuous against them.

14 And they cry unto Jehovah, and say, `We pray Thee, O Jehovah, let us not, we pray Thee, perish for this man's life, and do not lay on us innocent blood, for Thou, Jehovah, as Thou hast pleased,
Thou hast done.'

15 And they lift up Jonah, and cast him into the sea, and the sea ceaseth from its raging;

16 and the men fear Jehovah -- a great fear, and sacrifice a sacrifice to Jehovah, and vow vows.

17 And Jehovah appointeth a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah is in the bowels of the fish three days and three nights.

[_LittleNipper]

Jonah 2:1-10

From the stomach of the fish Jonah beseeched Jehovah his God;

he said, “Out of my distress I called to Jehovah, and He answered me. From hell's bowels I cried, and You heard my voice.

For you threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas; and the flood surrounded me --- all your surging waves passed over me.
 
I imagined, ‘I have been banished from Your view.’ But I will again see your holy temple.

The water surrounded me, threatened my life; the depths closed above me, seaweed wrapped around my head.

I was descending down to the forming of mountains, to a land whose supports would close upon me forever; but you brought me up alive from the pit, Jehovah, my God!

As my life was fading away, I remembered Jehovah; and my prayer came upon you, into your holy temple.

“Those embracing imitations throw away their source of mercy;

but I, speaking my thanks aloud, will sacrifice to you --- what I have vowed, I will accomplish. Salvation comes from Jehovah!”

Then Jehovah communicated with the fish, and it vomited Jonah out onto the beach.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And Jonah prayeth unto Jehovah his God from the bowels of the fish.

2 And he saith: I called, because of my distress, to Jehovah, And He doth answer me, From the belly of sheol I have cried, Thou hast heard my voice.

3 When Thou dost cast me [into] the deep, Into the heart of the seas, Then the flood doth compass me, All Thy breakers and Thy billows have passed over me.

4 And I -- I said: I have been cast out from before Thine eyes, (Yet I add to look unto Thy holy temple!)

5 Compassed me have waters unto the soul, The deep doth compass me, The weed is bound to my head.

6 To the cuttings of mountains I have come down, The earth, her bars [are] behind me to the age. And Thou bringest up from the pit my life, O Jehovah my God.

7 In the feebleness within me of my soul Jehovah I have remembered, And come in unto Thee doth my prayer, Unto Thy holy temple.

8 Those observing lying vanities their own mercy forsake.

9 And I -- with a voice of thanksgiving -- I sacrifice to Thee, That which I have vowed I complete, Salvation [is] of Jehovah.

10 And Jehovah saith to the fish, and it vomiteth out Jonah on the dry land.

[_LittleNipper]

One must realize that Jonah has been inside a great fish stomach for three days. He has had seaweed wrapped around him. The gastric acid bleached Jonah's skin and hair and ruined his clothes. He smelled of rotten fish. Jonah looked like the first ZOMBIE (living dead). On top of this Jonah didn't even like the Ninevites and didn't care if he lived or died. So he wasn't likely the most pleasant of individuals. He undoubtedly scared children and adults alike...

Jonah 3:1-10

Jehovah's word came to Jonah a second time:

“Head for the great city of Nineveh, and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

So Jonah went to Nineveh, as Jehovah said. Now Nineveh was such a large city that it took three days just traverse it from one side to the other.

Jonah began his entry into the city and had finished only his first day of proclaiming, ‘In forty days Nineveh will be cast down,’

when the citizens of Nineveh believed God. They proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the most powerful of them to the very meager.

When the news reached the monarch of Nineveh, he left his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat in ashes.

He then had this proclamation made throughout Nineveh: “By decree of the king and his nobles, no person or animal, herd or flock, is to put anything in his mouth; they are neither to eat nor drink water.

They must be covered with sackcloth, both people and animals; and they are to cry out to God with all their might — let each of them turn from evil and from violent practices.

Who knows? Maybe God will change His mind, relent and turn from His fierce anger; and then we won’t be consumed.”

When God saw through their actions that they repented from their evil behavior, He relented and did not bring upon them the punishment He had threatened.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jonah a second time, saying,

2 `Rise, go unto Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim unto it the proclamation that I am speaking unto thee;'

3 and Jonah riseth, and he goeth unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. And Nineveh hath been a great city before God, a journey of three days.

4 And Jonah beginneth to go in to the city a journey of one day, and proclaimeth, and saith, `Yet forty days -- and Nineveh is overturned.'

5 And the men of Nineveh believe in God, and proclaim a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even unto their least,

6 seeing the word doth come unto the king of Nineveh, and he riseth from his throne, and removeth his honourable robe from off him, and spreadeth out sackcloth, and sitteth on the ashes,

7 and he crieth and saith in Nineveh by a decree of the king and his great ones, saying, `Man and beast, herd and flock -- let them not taste anything, let them not feed, even water let them not drink;

8 and cover themselves [with] sackcloth let man and beast, and let them call unto God mightily, and let them turn back each from his evil way, and from the violence that [is] in their hands.

9 Who knoweth? He doth turn back, and God hath repented, and hath turned back from the heat of His anger, and we do not perish.'

10 And God seeth their works, that they have turned back from their evil way, and God repenteth of the evil that He spake of doing to them, and he hath not done [it]

[_LittleNipper]

Jonah 4:1-11

God's relenting upset Jonah, and he became angry.

He prayed to the Lord saying, “Woah Lord! Is this not what I said while I was still in my own land? This is the reason that I fled before to Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in faithfulness, and ready to withhold punishment.

Therefore, Lord, kill me now, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

So Jonah left the city and sat down east of the Nineveh and made for himself a shelter there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would happen to the city.

Then the Lord God designated a plant, and it grew up over Jonah to provide shade above his head, to provide comfort from his anguish. And Jonah was content with the plant.

But at dawn the next day, God sent a worm to attack the plant so that it withered.

At daybreak, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah so that he became faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to survive.”

Then God remarked to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry regarding this plant?” And Jonah replied, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death.”

The Lord said, “You are troubled regarding this plant for which you did not labor and did not grow. It came up in a night and perished in a night.

Should I not, therefore, be concerned regarding Nineveh, this great city, in which there live over 120,000 people, who do not know what is right or wrong, and also many animals?”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And it is grievous unto Jonah -- a great evil -- and he is displeased at it;

2 and he prayeth unto Jehovah, and he saith, `I pray Thee, O Jehovah, is not this my word while I was in mine own land -- therefore I was beforehand to flee to Tarshish -- that I have known that Thou
[art] a God, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, and repenting of evil?

3 And now, O Jehovah, take, I pray Thee, my soul from me, for better [is] my death than my life.'

4 And Jehovah saith, `Is doing good displeasing to thee?'

5 And Jonah goeth forth from the city, and sitteth on the east of the city, and maketh to himself there a booth, and sitteth under it in the shade, till that he seeth what is in the city.

6 And Jehovah God appointeth a gourd, and causeth it to come up over Jonah, to be a shade over his head, to give deliverance to him from his affliction, and Jonah rejoiceth because of the gourd [with]
great joy.

7 And God appointeth a worm at the going up of the dawn on the morrow, and it smiteth the gourd, and it drieth up.

8 And it cometh to pass, about the rising of the sun, that God appointeth a cutting east wind, and the sun smiteth on the head of Jonah, and he wrappeth himself up, and asketh his soul to die, and saith, `Better [is] my death than my life.'

9 And God saith unto Jonah: `Is doing good displeasing to thee, because of the gourd?' and he saith, `To do good is displeasing to me -- unto death.'

10 And Jehovah saith, `Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for which thou didst not labour, neither didst thou nourish it, which a son of a night was, and a son of a night perished,

11 and I -- have not I pity on Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than twelve myriads of human beings, who have not known between their right hand and their left -- and much cattle!'

[_LittleNipper]

Micah 1:1-16

The word of the Lord, that came to Micah the Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem.

Listen citizens, earth and everything upon it, that the Sovereign Lord may be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple.

Look! The Lord is coming out from His place, so that He might come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
 
The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters cascading down a slope.

This is because of the transgression of Jacob and because of the sins of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?
 
Therefore I will turn Samaria into a pile of dirt in the field for the planting of vineyards. I will dump her stones into the valley and expose her foundations.
 
All her idols will be broken, her gifts consumed, and I will annihilate her images, because she collected them like the wages of a prostitute, and as the wages of a prostitute they will again be applied.
 
Because of this I will moan and wail, I will head out barefoot and naked; I will howl like the jackals and moan like owlets.
 
For her wound is mortal, for it has arrived to Judah; it extends to the gate of my people in Jerusalem.

Do not tell Gath, do not weep at all; in Beth Ophrah, roll around in the dust.
 
Pass on by, inhabitants of Shaphir, naked and ashamed; the inhabitants of Zaanan have not come out. The mourning of Beth Ezel has removed its foothold from you.
 
Indeed the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good news, because calamity has come down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem.

Harness the chariot to the steeds, inhabitants of Lachish. It was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, because in you were discovered the sins of Israel.
 
Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath; the houses of Akzib will be deception to the kings of Israel.
 
I will again bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah; the glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
 
Shave your head and beards for the children of your delight; appear like a bald eagle, for they will depart from you into exile.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 A word of Jehovah that hath been unto Micah the Moresheth 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 [is] all this, And for the sins of the house of Israel. What [is] 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 [are] 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 [is] 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!

[_LittleNipper]

Micah 2:1-13

Misery to those who concoct evil and plan wickedness as they rest. When morning comes, they carry it out, since they have it in their power.

They desire fields and seize them; they assume houses as well, violating both owner and house, people and their inherited land.

Therefore this is what Jehovah says: “Against this family I am planning an evil from which you will not escape; nor will you walk with your heads held high,
for it will be an evil time.”

On that day they will take up a dirge for you; wailing sadly, “We're ruined! Our people’s land belongs to others. Our fields have been taken from us; instead of restoring them, He gives them away.”

Therefore, you will have no one among the assembly of Jehovah to survey and restore the land assigned by lot.

"Don't prophesy such things," the people preach. "Don't prophesy like that. Shame will not overtake us”

Is this what the house of Jacob says? Jehovah has not grown impatient, and these things aren't because of Him. “Rather, My words only help anyone living uprightly.

But lately My people behave like the enemy, stripping both cloaks and tunics from travelers who thought they were secure, so that they become like war refugees.

You toss My people’s women out of the homes they love. You deprive their children of My glory forever.

Leave! You can’t remain here! Because the land is now unclean, it will destroy you with terrible destruction.”

If a man who walks in wind and falsehood tells this lie: “I will preach to you of how good is wine and strong liquor” — this people will accept him as their preacher!

“I will gather all of you, Jacob; I will collect the remnant of Israel, I will put them together like sheep in a pen, like a herd in its pasture — it will murmur with the sounds of people.”

The one penetrating went up before them; they broke through, passed the gate and went out. Their king passed on ahead of them; Jehovah was leading them.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Wo [to] those devising iniquity, And working evil on their beds, In the light of the morning they do it, For their hand is -- to God.

2 And they have desired fields, And they have taken violently, And houses, and they have taken away, And have oppressed a man and his house, Even a man and his inheritance.

3 Therefore, thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am devising against this family evil, From which ye do not remove your necks, Nor walk loftily, for a time of evil it [is].

4 In that day doth [one] take up for you a simile, And he hath wailed a wailing of wo, He hath said, We have been utterly spoiled, The portion of my people He doth change, How doth He move toward
me! To the backslider our fields He apportioneth.

5 Therefore, thou hast no caster of a line by lot In the assembly of Jehovah.

6 Ye do not prophesy -- they do prophesy, They do not prophesy to these, It doth not remove shame.

7 Doth the house of Jacob say, `Hath the Spirit of Jehovah been shortened? Are these His doings?' Do not My words benefit the people that is walking uprightly?

8 And yesterday My people for an enemy doth raise himself up, From the outer garment the honourable ornament ye strip off, From the confident passers by, Ye who are turning back from war.

9 The women of My people ye cast out from its delightful house, From its sucklings ye take away My honour to the age.

10 Rise and go, for this [is] not the rest, Because of uncleanness it doth corrupt, And corruption is powerful.

11 If one is going [with] the wind, And [with] falsehood hath lied: `I prophesy to thee of wine, and of strong drink,' He hath been the prophet of this people!

12 I do surely gather thee, O Jacob, all of thee, I surely bring together the remnant of Israel, Together I do set it as the flock of Bozrah, As a drove in the midst of its pasture, It maketh a noise because of
man.

13 Gone up hath the breaker before them, They have broken through, Yea, they pass through the gate, Yea, they go out through it, And pass on doth their king before them, And Jehovah at their head!

[_LittleNipper]

Micah 3:1-12

However I said, "Hear, leaders of Jacob --- rulers of Israel! Isn’t it your job to comprehend justice?

You who hate good and love evil, who tear the skin off them, and strip them to the bone,

who devour the flesh of My people, break their bones to bits, and spread them out as if in a pot, like stewing meat.

Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not answer. He will hide his face from them then, because of their wanton deeds.

The Lord proclaims concerning certain prophets who lead my people astray, those who gnashing their teeth and then proclaim “Peace!” but stir up war against the one who gives them nothing to eat.

Therefore, it will become darkness to you --- blindness---without any perception! The sun will set on these prophets; even day will be darkness to them.

Those seeing visions will be ashamed, and the diviners disgraced; they will all bite their lips, for there will be no response from God.

But me! I'm filled with power, with the spirit of the Lord, with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his mistakes and to Israel his sin!

Listen, leaders of the house of Jacob, rulers of Israel, you who reject justice and twist what is straight,

who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with injustice!

Her officials provide justice for a bribe, and her priests teach for hire. Her prophets prophecy for money, yet they rely on the Lord, saying, “Isn’t the Lord among us? Evil won’t come!”

Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become piles of rubble, and the temple mount will become an overgrown mound.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And I say, `Hear, I pray you, heads of Jacob, And ye judges of the house of Israel, Is it not for you to know the judgment?

2 Ye who are hating good, and loving evil, Taking violently their skin from off them, And their flesh from off their bones,

3 And who have eaten the flesh of My people, And their skin from off them have stript, And their bones they have broken, And they have spread [them] out as in a pot, And as flesh in the midst of a
caldron.

4 Then do they cry unto Jehovah, And He doth not answer them, And hideth His face from them at that time, As they have made evil their doings.

5 Thus said Jehovah concerning the prophets Who are causing My people to err, Who are biting with their teeth, And have cried `Peace,' And he who doth not give unto their mouth, They have sanctified
against him war.

6 Therefore a night ye have without vision, And darkness ye have without divination, And gone in hath the sun on the prophets, And black over them hath been the day.

7 And ashamed have been the seers, And confounded have been the diviners, And covered their lip have all of them, For their is no answer, O God.

8 And yet I have been full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, And of judgment, and of might, To declare to Jacob his transgression, And to Israel his sin.

9 Hear this, I pray you, heads of the house of Jacob, And ye judges of the house of Israel, Who are making judgment abominable, And all uprightness do pervert.

10 Building up Zion with blood, And Jerusalem with iniquity.

11 Her heads for a bribe do judge, And her priests for hire do teach, And her prophets for silver divine, And on Jehovah they lean, saying, `Is not Jehovah in our midst? Evil doth not come in upon us.'

12 Therefore, for your sake, Zion is ploughed a field, and Jerusalem is heaps, And the mount of the house [is] for high places of a forest!

[_LittleNipper]

Micah 4:1-13

But in the time to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of the mountains; it will be lifted above the hills; peoples will stream there.

Many countries will go saying, “Come on, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God, so that He may educate us in His ways and walk in God’s paths!” Instruction will come from Zion and the Lord’s word from Jerusalem.

God will judge issues between the nations and settle disputes of distant mighty nations. They will form their swords into iron plows and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to fight.
 
All will sit underneath their own grapevines --- their own fig trees. There will be no one to upset them; for the mouth of the Lord of a heavenly army has spoken.
 
Each group walks in the name of their own god; but as for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God continually forever.
 
One day, says the Lord, I will gather the lame; I will collect those who were driven away and those whom I have harmed.
 
I will make survivors of the lame, those driven away into a mighty nation. The Lord will rule over them on Mount Zion continually forever.
 
As for you, Tower of Eder, hill of Daughter Zion, as for you it will arrive, the former dominion will arrive, the royal power belonging to Daughter Zion.
 
Now why do you yell so loudly? Isn’t the king in you? Or has your counselor perished, so that pain has seized you like that of a woman in labor?
 
Writhe and scream, Daughter Zion, like a woman in labor! Now you will leave the metropolis and dwell in the field; you will go to Babylon. There you will be saved; there the Lord will redeem you from the your mighty enemies.
 
Now many countries may gather against you; they say, “Let her be defiled,” or “Let our eyes look with desire at Zion.”
 
But they don’t realize the plans of the Lord; they can’t understand His plain, namely, that he will bring them like grain to the threshing floor!
 
Arise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will make your horn out of iron and your hooves of bronze. You will crush many peoples; you will dedicate their ill-gotten gains -- their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 And it hath come to pass, In the latter end of the days, The mount of the house of Jehovah Is established above the top of the mounts, And it hath been lifted up above the hills, And flowed unto it have peoples.

2 And gone have many nations and said, Come and we go up to the mount of Jehovah, And unto the house of the God of Jacob, And He doth teach us of His ways, And we do walk in His paths, For from
Zion doth go forth a law, And a word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.

3 And He hath judged between many peoples, And given a decision to mighty nations afar off, They have beaten their swords to ploughshares, And their spears to pruning-hooks, Nation lifteth not up
sword unto nation, Nor do they learn war any more.

4 And they have sat each under his vine, And under his fig-tree, And there is none troubling, For the mouth of Jehovah of Hosts hath spoken.

5 For all the peoples do walk, Each in the name of its god -- and we, We do walk in the name of Jehovah our God, To the age and for ever.

6 In that day -- an affirmation of Jehovah, I do gather the halting one, And the driven away one I bring together, And she whom I have afflicted.

7 And I have set the halting for a remnant, And the far-off for a mighty nation, And reigned hath Jehovah over them in mount Zion, From henceforth, and unto the age.

8 And thou, O tower of Eder, Fort of the daughter of Zion, unto thee it cometh, Yea, come in hath the former rule, The kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now, why dost thou shout aloud? A king -- is there none in thee? Hath thy counsellor perished, That taken hold of thee hath pain as a travailing woman?

10 Be pained, and bring forth, O daughter of Zion, As a travailing woman, For now, thou goest forth from the city, And thou hast dwelt in the field, And thou hast gone unto Babylon, There thou art
delivered, There redeem thee doth Jehovah from the hand of thine enemies.

11 And now, gathered against thee have been many nations, who are saying: `Let her be defiled, and our eyes look on Zion.'

12 They have not known the thoughts of Jehovah, Nor have they understood His counsel, For He hath gathered them as a sheaf [into] a threshing-floor.

13 Arise, and thresh, O daughter of Zion, For thy horn I make iron, And thy hoofs I make brass, And thou hast beaten small many peoples, And I have devoted to Jehovah their gain, And their wealth to
the Lord of the whole earth!

[_LittleNipper]

Micah 5:1-15

Now gather together in troops, he is besieging us. With a rod they will strike the cheek of the Judge of Israel.
 
However you, Bethlehem Ephrathah -- though tiny among the tribes of Judah, out of you will arrive for Me one who will rule Israel. His origins are from everlasting past.
 
Therefore He will hand them over, until the time when she who is in labor gives birth, and the remainder of His flock will return to Israel.
 
He will rise and shepherd in the power of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; they will at that time live securely, because now He will be great through the conclusion of the earth;

and He will be calming to them. The Remnant of Jacob saved when Assyria enters our land and tromps through our palaces, then we will raise up against him 7 shepherds and 8 commanders of men.
 
They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at her gates; He will save us from Assyria, when entering our land and treading within our border.
 
Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many nationalities, like dew from the Lord, like showers upon the grass, which do not consider man and do not stay for man's sons.
 
The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the woods, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which when it rambles through, tramples and mauls, without rescuer.
 
Your hand will be raised above your adversaries, and all your enemies will be severed.

And in that day, declares the Lord, I will destroy your horses from among you, and smash your chariots.
 
Then I will destroy the cities of your land, and I will overthrow your citadels.
 
Then I will end sorceries from your hand, and you will no longer have fortune-tellers.

Then I will end your idolatries, and your sacred stones from among you, and you will no longer bow down to your creations.
 
Then I will dig up your Asherah idols from among you, and I will annihilate your cities.

And in anger and wrath I will take vengeance on the nations that have not listened.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)
1 Now gather thyself together, O daughter of troops, A siege he hath laid against us, With a rod they smite on the cheek the judge of Israel.

2 And thou, Beth-Lehem Ephratah, Little to be among the chiefs of Judah! From thee to Me he cometh forth -- to be ruler in Israel, And his comings forth [are] of old, From the days of antiquity.

3 Therefore he doth give them out till the time She who bringeth forth hath brought forth, And the remnant of his brethren return to the sons of Israel.

4 And he hath stood and delighted in the strength of Jehovah, In the excellency of the name of Jehovah his God, And they have remained, For now he is great unto the ends of earth.

5 And this [one] hath been peace, Asshur! when he doth come into our land, And when he doth tread in our palaces, We have raised against him seven shepherds, And eight anointed of man.

6 And they have afflicted the land of Asshur with the sword, And the land of Nimrod at its openings, And he hath delivered from Asshur when he doth come into our land, And when he treadeth in our
borders.

7 And the remnant of Jacob hath been in the midst of many peoples, As dew from Jehovah -- as showers on the herb, That waiteth not for man, nor stayeth for the sons of men.

8 Yea, the remnant of Jacob hath been among nations, In the midst of many peoples, As a lion among beasts of a forest, As a young lion among ranks of a flock, Which if it hath passed through, Hath
both trodden down and hath torn, And there is no deliverer.

9 High is thy hand above thine adversaries, And all thine enemies are cut off.

10 And it hath come to pass in that day, An affirmation of Jehovah, I have cut off thy horses from thy midst, And I have destroyed thy chariots,

11 And I have cut off the cities of thy land, And I have thrown down all thy fortresses,

12 And have cut off sorcerers out of thy hand, And observers of clouds thou hast none.

13 And I have cut off thy graven images, And thy standing-pillars out of thy midst, And thou dost not bow thyself any more To the work of thy hands.

14 And I have plucked up thy shrines out of thy midst, And I have destroyed thine enemies.

15 And I have done vengeance in anger and in fury, With the nations who have not hearkened!

[_LittleNipper]

Micah 6:1-16

Listen to what the Lord says, “Stand, plead your case before the mountains, And let the hills witnesses your voice.

Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you too ancient foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a legal complaint against His chosen. And He will challenge Israel.

My people, you've turned away from Me --- what have I done? And how have I worn you out? Answer Me.

I brought you up from the land of Egypt and released you from the house of slavery, and I sent Moses to lead you, Aaron [high priest], and Miriam [prophetess].

My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him (turning the curse into blessing for Israel from Shittim to Gilgal), So that you may attest to the righteous and saving acts demonstrating the Lord's power."

With what shall I come before the Lord honoring Him --- bowing myself before God on high? Shall I bring burnt offerings to Him with yearling calves?

Will the Lord be delighted with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I sacrifice my firstborn for my acts of rebellion, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has explained, dear man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you other than to be just, and to love compassionately, and walk humbly with your God without self-assurance?

The voice of the Lord shall call to Jerusalem — and it is sound wisdom to solemnly listen and regard His name with awe; Hear, the rod of punishment, and who has appointed it.

"Are there not still treasures gained by evil In the house of the wicked, but for only a short cursed interval?

Can I be guiltless and justify deceptive scales and an assortment of dishonest weights?

For the rich men of the city are full of violence of every sort; Her inhabitants spread lies And their tongue is deceitful.

So also I will make you sickly, striking you down, desolating and devastating you, because of your sins.

You shall acquire, but you not be satisfied, and your emptiness shall be prevalent. You will attempt to hide your goods and those you love for safekeeping, but you will fail to save anything, and what you do save I shall give to the sword.

You shall plant but you shall not reap. You shall tread olives, but shall not anoint yourself with oil. And you will mash the grapes, but you shall not drink the wine.

For you have kept the statutes of (idolatrous king) Omri, and all the wickedness of Ahab. And you walk in their counsels and policies. Therefore, I shall hand you over for destruction and horror, and your citizens for ridicule, And you shall bear the rebuke and scorn of My Elect.”

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Hear, I pray you, that which Jehovah is saying: `Rise -- strive thou with the mountains, And cause thou the hills to hear thy voice.'

2 Hear, O mountains, the strife of Jehovah, Ye strong ones -- foundations of earth! For a strife [is] to Jehovah, with His people, And with Israel He doth reason.

3 O My people, what have I done to thee? And what -- have I wearied thee? Testify against Me.

4 For I brought thee up from the land of Egypt, And from the house of servants I have ransomed thee, And I send before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.

5 O My people, remember, I pray you, What counsel did Balak king of Moab, What answer him did Balaam son of Beor, (From Shittim unto Gilgal,) In order to know the righteous acts of Jehovah.'

6 With what do I come before Jehovah? Do I bow to God Most High? Do I come before Him with burnt-offerings? With calves -- sons of a year?

7 Is Jehovah pleased with thousands of rams? With myriads of streams of oil? Do I give my first-born [for] my transgression? The fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?

8 He hath declared to thee, O man, what [is] good; Yea, what is Jehovah requiring of thee, Except -- to do judgment, and love kindness, And lowly to walk with thy God?

9 A voice of Jehovah to the city calleth, And wisdom doth fear Thy name, Hear ye the rod, and Him who appointed it.

10 Are there yet [in] the house of the wicked Treasures of wickedness, And the abhorred scanty ephah?

11 Do I reckon [it] pure with balances of wickedness? And with a bag of deceitful stones?

12 Whose rich ones have been full of violence, And its inhabitants have spoken falsehood, And their tongue [is] deceitful in their mouth.

13 And I also, I have begun to smite thee, To make desolate, because of thy sins.

14 Thou -- thou eatest, and thou art not satisfied, And thy pit [is] in thy midst, And thou removest, and dost not deliver, And that which thou deliverest, to a sword I give.

15 Thou -- thou sowest, and thou dost not reap, Thou -- thou treadest the olive, And thou pourest not out oil, And new wine -- and thou drinkest not wine.

16 And kept habitually are the statutes of Omri, And all the work of the house of Ahab, And ye do walk in their counsels, For My giving thee for a desolation, And its inhabitants for a hissing, And the
reproach of My people ye do bear!