Micah 4

¹ But in days to come Yahweh's Temple Mountain will tower above the mountains, rise higher than thehil s.

² Then the peoples wil stream to it, then many nations wil come and say, 'Come, we will go up toYahweh's mountain, to the Temple of the God of Jacob, so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk inhis paths; for the Law issues from Zion and Yahweh's word from Jerusalem.'

³ He wil judge between many peoples and arbitrate between mighty nations. They wil hammer theirswords into ploughshares and their spears into bil -hooks. Nation will not lift sword against nation or ever againbe trained to make war.

⁴ But each man wil sit under his vine and fig tree with no one to trouble him. The mouth of YahwehSabaoth has spoken.

⁵ For all peoples go forward, each in the name of its god, while we go forward in the name of Yahweh ourGod for ever and ever.

⁶ That day -- declares Yahweh- I shal gather in the lame and bring together the strays and those whom Ihave treated harshly.

⁷ From the footsore I shall make a remnant, and from the far-flung a mighty nation. And Yahweh will reignover them on Mount Zion thenceforth and for ever.

⁸ And to you, Tower of the Flock, Ophel of the daughter of Zion, to you your former sovereignty wil return,the royal power of the daughter of Jerusalem.

⁹ Why are you crying out now? Have you no king? Has your counsel or perished, for pangs to grip youlike those of a woman in labour?

¹⁰ Writhe in pain and cry aloud, daughter of Zion, like a woman in labour, for now you must leave the cityand camp in the open country; to Babylon you must go, and there you will be rescued; there Yahweh wil ransomyou from the clutches of your enemies.

¹¹ Now many nations have mustered against you. They say, 'Let us desecrate her, let us gloat over Zion!'

¹² But they do not know Yahweh's thoughts, they do not understand his design: he has col ected themlike sheaves on the threshing-floor.

¹³ Start your threshing, daughter of Zion, for I shal make your horn like iron, I shall make your hooves likebronze, so that you can crush many peoples. And you wil devote what they have stolen to Yahweh, their wealthto the Lord of the whole earth.

¹⁴ Now look to your fortifications, Fortress! They have laid siege to us; the ruler of Israel wil be struck onthe cheek with a rod.