Micah 4

• 1. In the last days, the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem will become the most important place on earth. People from all over the world will go there to worship.
• 2. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Temple of the God of Israel. There he will teach us his ways, so that we may obey him." For in those days the LORD's teaching and his word will go out from Jerusalem.
• 3. The LORD will settle international disputes. All the nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. All wars will stop, and military training will come to an end.
• 4. Everyone will live quietly in their own homes in peace and prosperity, for there will be nothing to fear. The LORD Almighty has promised this!
• 5. Even though the nations around us worship idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.
• 6. "In that coming day," says the LORD, "I will gather together my people who are lame, who have been exiles, filled with grief.
• 7. They are weak and far from home, but I will make them strong again, a mighty nation. Then I, the LORD, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever."
• 8. As for you, O Jerusalem, the citadel of God's people, your royal might and power will come back to you again. The kingship will be restored to my precious Jerusalem.
• 9. But why are you now screaming in terror? Have you no king to lead you? He is dead! Have you no wise people to counsel you? All are gone! Pain has gripped you like it does a woman in labor.
• 10. Writhe and groan in terrible pain, you people of Jerusalem, for you must leave this city to live in the open fields. You will soon be sent into exile in distant Babylon. But the LORD will rescue you there; he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.
• 11. True, many nations have gathered together against you, calling for your blood, eager to gloat over your destruction.
• 12. But 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 bundles of grain on a threshing floor.
• 13. "Rise up and destroy the nations, O Jerusalem!" says the LORD. "For I will give you iron horns and bronze hooves, so you can trample many nations to pieces. Then you will give all the wealth they acquired as offerings to me, the Lord of all the earth."

Micah 5

• 1. Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. With a rod they will strike the leader of Israel in the face.
• 2. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.
• 3. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth to her son. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land.
• 4. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD's strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored all around the world.
• 5. And he will be the source of our peace. When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defenses, we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us, eight princes to lead us.
• 6. They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod. They will rescue us from the Assyrians when they pour over the borders to invade our land.
• 7. Then the few left in Israel will go out among the nations. They will be like dew sent by the LORD or like rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back.
• 8. The remnant of Israel will go out among the nations and be as strong as a lion. And the other nations will be like helpless sheep, with no one to rescue them.
• 9. The people of Israel will stand up to their foes, and all their enemies will be wiped out.
• 10. "At that same time," says the LORD, "I will destroy all your weapons--your horses and chariots.
• 11. I will tear down your walls and demolish the defenses of your cities.
• 12. I will put an end to all witchcraft; there will be no more fortune-tellers to consult.
• 13. I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars, so you will never again worship the work of your own hands.
• 14. I will abolish your pagan shrines with their Asherah poles and destroy the cities where your idol temples stand.
• 15. I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me."

New Living Translation: 312 of 324 days.