<< Micah 4 >> New Living Translation

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Israel’s Return from Exile

6“In that coming day,” says the Lord,

“I will gather together those who are lame,

those who have been exiles,

and those whom I have filled with grief.

7Those who are weak will survive as a remnant;

those who were exiles will become a strong nation.

Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem^a

as their king forever.”

8As for you, Jerusalem,

the citadel of God’s people,^b

your royal might and power

will come back to you again.

The kingship will be restored

to my precious Jerusalem.

9But why are you now screaming in terror?

Have you no king to lead you?

Have your wise people all died?

Pain has gripped you like a woman in childbirth.

10Writhe and groan like a woman in labor,

you people of Jerusalem,^c

for now you must leave this city

to live in the open country.

You will soon be sent in exile

to distant Babylon.

But the Lord will rescue you there;

he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.

11Now many nations have gathered against you.

“Let her be desecrated,” they say.

“Let us see the destruction of Jerusalem.^d”

12But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts

or understand his plan.

These nations don’t know

that he is gathering them together

to be beaten and trampled

like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor.

13“Rise up and crush the nations, O Jerusalem!”^e

says the Lord.

“For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves,

so you can trample many nations to pieces.

You will present their stolen riches to the Lord,

their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”

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