Mic 4:9 | NETfull | STEP | Jerusalem, why are you now shouting so loudly? Has your king disappeared? Has your wise leader been destroyed? Is this why pain grips you as if you were a woman in labor?

Micah 4:9

9 Jerusalem, why are you ^{▼▼ The Hebrew form is feminine singular, indicating that Jerusalem, personified as a young woman, is now addressed (see v. 10). In v. 8 the tower/fortress was addressed with masculine forms, so there is clearly a shift in addressee here. “Jerusalem” has been supplied in the translation at the beginning of v. 9 to make this shift apparent.} now shouting so loudly? ^{▼▼ Heb “Now why are you shouting [with] a shout.”}
Has your king disappeared? ^{▼▼ Heb “Is there no king over you?”}
Has your wise leader ^{▼▼ Traditionally, “counselor” (cf. KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV). This refers to the king mentioned in the previous line; the title points to the king’s roles as chief strategist and policy maker, both of which required extraordinary wisdom.} been destroyed?
Is this why ^{▼▼ Heb “that.” The Hebrew particle כִּי (ki) is used here in a resultative sense; for this use see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 73, #450.} pain grips ^{▼▼ Heb “grabs hold of, seizes.”} you as if you were a woman in labor?