Mic 4:9-10 | 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 4:9-10

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?
10 Twist and strain, ^{▼▼ Or perhaps “scream”; NRSV, TEV, NLT “groan.”} Daughter Zion, as if you were in labor!
For you will leave the city
and live in the open field.
You will go to Babylon,
but there you will be rescued.
There the Lord will deliver ^{▼▼ Or “redeem” (KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).} you
from the power ^{▼▼ Heb “hand.” The Hebrew idiom is a metonymy for power or control.} of your enemies.