Section 7:8–13
The LORD will restore his people
In this section, the speaker expressed his trust that the LORD would restore and bless his people again after a time of suffering for their sin. Their borders would be enlarged and people would come there from other nations.
Here are some other examples of section headings:
Penitence and Trust in God (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Israel Will Rise (New International Version)
-or-
The Lord Brings Salvation (Good News Translation)
Paragraph 7:8–10
This paragraph talks about confession of sin, faith in the LORD, and victory over enemies. The pronouns “I” and “me” are used to refer to the speaker, whose identity is not made explicit. Most versions also leave the speaker implied. However, in some languages it may be necessary to make the referent of “I” and “my” explicit. The majority of commentators propose that the city of Jerusalem/Zion was figuratively speaking here (personification). It is also possible that Micah spoke here as a representative of the godly remnant of the people of Israel. The Notes will follow the majority opinion.
Since a city has many residents, it may be more natural in some languages to translate the first-person pronouns in this paragraph as plurals, “we,” “our,” and “us.” See the second and/or third meaning lines in the Display for examples.
7:8a
Do not gloat over me, my enemy!: In Hebrew, the phrase gloat over me means “rejoice arrogantly, exult.”
In this clause the speaker addressed an enemy directly. Some versions have added the word “O” to make it clear that my enemy is a term of address (vocative). Use a vocative that is natural in your language when a person speaks to a group of people.
Here are some ways to translate this clause:
• Translate as a command. For example:
Enemy, don’t laugh at me. (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not gloat over me, my enemies! (New Living Translation (2004))
• Translate as a statement. For example:
Our enemies have no reason to gloat over us. (Good News Translation)
my enemy: In Hebrew, the words my and enemy are singular. However, both words have a collective reference to a group of people. In some languages, it may be more natural to translate these words with plural forms. See the Good News Translation example above.
Based on 7:8b, the enemy was probably a literal city or nation whose army had defeated the city of Jerusalem. In Hebrew, the word enemy is feminine. However, use the gender that is natural in your language to refer to an enemy city or nation.
7:8b–c
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
8b
Though I have fallen, I will arise;
8c
though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
In each line, the underlined part states a negative situation. The part in bold print states a positive outcome. Together, these lines give the reason why the speaker (Jerusalem) tells the enemy not to rejoice. It is because the city will not remain destroyed. The LORD will bring restoration and salvation.
Though I have fallen…though I sit: In this verse, both phrases refer to a past event, the defeat of the city by an enemy. However, the same phrases can apply to other, future negative situations also.
Here are some ways to translate these phrases:
• Translate in a way that refers to the situation in Jerusalem at that time. Leave implied that the same phrases can also apply to other negative situations. For example:
Although I’ve fallen…although I sit in the dark (God’s Word)
-or-
We have fallen…We are in darkness now (Good News Translation)
• Translate in a way that has general application to any negative situation. Leave implied that these phrases refer initially to the city’s defeat at that time. For example:
when I fall…when I sit in darkness (English Standard Version)
-or-
Though I fall…Though I dwell in darkness (New American Standard Bible)
7:8b
Though I have fallen, I will arise: These phrases are metaphors that compare defeat in war and recovery from defeat to a person who falls and then stands up. The word fallen means “experience calamity.” Here the word arise means “come back to life.”
Here are some ways to translate these phrases. If possible, keep the references to falling and rising in your translation, as in the first two bulleted options below. The strong contrast may give the translation greater impact:
• Keep the metaphors. For example:
Though I have fallen, I will rise. (New International Version)
• Change the metaphors into a simile. For example:
I am like a person who has fallen but will stand again.
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Although I have been defeated, I will recover.
7:8c
though I sit in darkness: This clause is the first of two metaphors about darkness and light. This metaphor compares the difficult situation of distress and humiliation to a person sitting in a dark place, like a prisoner confined to a dark cell.
the LORD will be my light: This clause part is the second metaphor about darkness and light. It compares deliverance/salvation by the LORD to light.
Here are some ways to translate 7:8c. If possible, keep the references to darkness and light in your translation, as in the first two bulleted options below. The strong contrast may give the translation greater impact.
• Keep the metaphors. For example:
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (New International Version)
• Change the metaphors into similes. For example:
I am like a person who sits in a dark place. But the LORD will be like light that dispels the darkness.
• Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
Although I am now in despair, the LORD will deliver me.
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