Micah 4

1But in the latter days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it.

1In the future, the mountain where the LORD’S temple stands will be established as the highest of all mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and people from all over the world will stream toward it.

2And many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem;

2Many nations will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us how to live, and we will follow his paths.' For the law will go out from Zion, and the word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem.

3and he will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

3He will settle disputes between many peoples and make decisions for strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plow blades and their spears into pruning tools. Nations will no longer fight against each other, and they will never again train for war.

4But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of Jehovah of hosts hath spoken it.

4Everyone will sit peacefully under their own grapevines and fig trees, and no one will make them afraid. The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has promised this.

5For all the peoples walk every one in the name of his god; and we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever.

5All the other nations follow their own gods, but we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.

6In that day, saith Jehovah, will I assemble that which is lame, and I will gather that which is driven away, and that which I have afflicted;

6'On that day,' says the LORD, 'I will gather those who are injured; I will bring together those who were sent away and those I have punished.'

7and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and Jehovah will reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even for ever.

7I will make those who are weak into a survivor group, and those who were driven far away into a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them on Mount Zion from that time on and forever.

8And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

8As for you, the lookout tower for the people, the stronghold of daughter Zion, your former power will be restored to you. The royal authority will return to daughter Jerusalem.

9Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee, is thy counsellor perished, that pangs have taken hold of thee as of a woman in travail?

9Why are you crying out so loudly now? Do you have no king? Has your advisor died, so that you are in pain like a woman giving birth?

10Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and shalt dwell in the field, and shalt come even unto Babylon: there shalt thou be rescued; there will Jehovah redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

10Writhe and groan, people of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you must leave the city and live in the open fields. You will go to Babylon, but there you will be rescued; there the LORD will save you from the power of your enemies.

11And now many nations are assembled against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye see our desire upon Zion.

11Now many nations have gathered against you. They say, 'Let Zion be disgraced; let us look at her destruction with our own eyes.'

12But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they his counsel; for he hath gathered them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor.

12But they do not know what the LORD is thinking or understand his plan. He has gathered them like bundles of grain to the threshing floor to be crushed.

13Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples: and I will devote their gain unto Jehovah, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

13'Rise up and crush them, people of Zion! I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze. You will smash many nations into pieces.' You will give their stolen wealth to the LORD and their riches to the Lord of all the earth.