Micah 4

But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

1In days to come, something will happen. The mountain where the LORD's house stands will be the highest mountain. It will be lifted up above all the hills. People will stream to it like a river.

2And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, 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 the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

2Many nations will come and say, "Let's go up to the LORD's mountain. Let's go to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways. Then we will walk in His paths." God's teaching will go out from Zion. The word of the LORD will go out from Jerusalem.

3And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

3He will judge between many peoples. He will settle arguments for strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plow blades. They will turn their spears into tools for trimming plants. No nation will pick up a sword against another nation. They will not train for war anymore.

NoteA plow blade cuts open the ground for planting. A pruning hook trims branches. Both are farm tools, so the picture is weapons being made into things that grow food.

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

4Every person will sit under his own grapevine and fig tree. No one will make them afraid. The LORD of Heaven's Armies has said it Himself.

5For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

5Every other nation may follow its own god. But we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.

6In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

6The LORD says, "On that day I will gather those who cannot walk well. I will bring back those who were chased away. I will gather even the ones I have hurt.

7And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

7I will make the ones who limped into a group that is left alive. I will make the ones sent far away into a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them on Mount Zion. He will rule from that day on, forever.

8And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

8And you, watchtower over the sheep, strong place of the people of Zion, your old rule will come back to you. The kingdom will come again to the people of Jerusalem."

9Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.

9Why are you crying out so loudly now? Is there no king among you? Has your wise helper died? Pain grips you like a woman having a baby.

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

10Twist and groan, people of Zion, like a woman having a baby. You must leave the city now. You will camp out in the open fields. You will go all the way to Babylon. There you will be saved. There the LORD will buy you back from your enemies.

Note"Redeem" here means to pay to set someone free, the way a person might buy back something that was taken.

11Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.

11Right now many nations have gathered against you. They say, "Let her be shamed. Let us stare at Zion and enjoy it."

12But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

12But they do not know what the LORD is thinking. They do not understand His plan. He has gathered them like bundles of grain on the threshing floor.

NoteA threshing floor is a flat, hard spot where grain is beaten to knock the seeds loose from the stalks. Verse 13 uses the same picture.

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

13Get up and thresh, people of Zion. I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze. You will crush many peoples to pieces. Then you will give what they gained to the LORD. You will give their riches to the Lord of the whole earth.