Micah 4

The Lord’s Reign in Zion

1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s house will be established as the highest of the mountains, lifted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

2 Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, so He can teach us His ways and we can walk in His paths.” The law will go out from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

3 He will judge between many peoples and settle disputes for strong nations far away. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation anymore, and they will not learn war anymore.

4 Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree with nobody making them afraid, because the mouth of the LORD of armies has spoken.

5 Though all peoples walk in the name of their own gods, we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

The LORD Will Restore His People

6 “In that day,” says the LORD, “I will gather the lame, bring together the outcasts and those I afflicted.

7 I will make the lame a remnant and the scattered a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them on Mount Zion from now on and forever.

8 As for you, tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, the former dominion will come back to you, kingship will come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”

Zion’s Trouble and Redemption

9 Now why are you crying out loud, Is there no king among you, Has your counselor disappeared, that pain grabs you like a woman in labor,

10 Writhe and groan, daughter of Zion, like a woman giving birth, because now you will leave the city, camp in the open field, and go to Babylon. There you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

11 Now many nations are gathered against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes look on Zion.”

12 But they do not know the LORD’s thoughts or understand His plan, that He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.

13 Get up and thresh, daughter of Zion, because I will make your horn iron and your hooves bronze, and you will crush many peoples. You will devote their unjust gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.