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Why the Israelites Must Go to Babylon

Now, why do you cry so loudly?
    Is your king gone?
Have you lost your leader?
    You are in pain like a woman trying to give birth.
10 People of Jerusalem, be in pain.
    Be like a woman trying to give birth.
Now you must leave the city
    and live in the field.
You will go to Babylon.
    But you will be saved from that place.
The Lord will go there
    and take you back from your enemies.

11 But now many nations
    have come to fight against you.
They say, “Let’s destroy Jerusalem
    and be proud we have defeated her.”

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Why do you now cry aloud—
    have you no king[a](A)?
Has your ruler[b] perished,
    that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?(B)
10 Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion,
    like a woman in labor,
for now you must leave the city
    to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon;(C)
    there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will redeem(D) you
    out of the hand of your enemies.

11 But now many nations
    are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
    let our eyes gloat(E) over Zion!”

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 4:9 Or King
  2. Micah 4:9 Or Ruler