Micah 4:9
7 And I will make the lame into a remnant, and the outcast into a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
8 And you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion— the former dominion will be restored to you; sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
10 Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
11 But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
- KJV
- Now 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.
- WEB
- Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pains have taken hold of you as of a woman in travail?
- ASV
- Now 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?
- DARBY
- Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished, that pangs have seized thee as a woman in travail?
- BLB
- Now why do you shout [with] shouting? [Is there] no king among you? Or has your counselor perished, that has gripped you anguish like a woman in labor?
- ÅB
- Hvorfor roper du så høyt nå?
Er det ingen konge i deg?
Er rådgiveren din borte,
siden veer har grepet deg som en kvinne som føder? - OTB
- Nå, hvorfor roper du høyt?
Er det ingen konge blant deg,
Eller har din rådgiver omkommet,
Slik at smerte har grepet deg som en fødende kvinne? - B1930
- Hvorfor skriker du nu så høit? Er det da ingen konge i dig, eller er din rådgiver omkommet, siden veer har grepet dig som den fødende kvinnes?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 8:19
Listen to the cry of the daughter of my people from a land far away: “Is the LORD no longer in Zion? Is her King no longer there?” “Why have they provoked Me to anger with their carved images, with their worthless foreign idols?”
Read in contextIsaiah 3:1–7
For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,
Read in contextLamentations 4:20
The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
Read in contextHosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.
Read in contextHosea 13:10–11
Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?
Read in contextIsaiah 26:17
As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.
Read in contextIsaiah 13:8
Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.
Read in contextIsaiah 21:3
Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.
Read in context