(Pioneer Bible Translators and The Word for the World use the following introduction in many of their translation projects around the world.)
The following book contains the prophecies of Micah. Micah was from a town in Judah called Moresheth (1:1 and Jer. 26:18). He prophesied during the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah. This means that his ministry was between around 750 B.C. and 700 B.C., which is near the same time that Isaiah and Hosea prophesied. It is unknown whether Micah wrote down these prophesies or whether one of his disciples did it for him. Whatever the case may be, it is likely that the book was written between 700 B.C. and 608 B.C. because it is mentioned in the book of Jeremiah.
Micah’s prophesies go back and forth between God’s judgment and his salvation. He accuses Israel and Judah of mistreating the poor and being greedy (2:2). He also accuses their prophets of being corrupt (3:5). Therefore, God would destroy their cities (1:6 and 3:12) and send them into captivity away from Israel and later also from Judah. But God would also remember his promise and bring back a small number of believers (4:6). God also promised to send a leader from Bethlehem, a messiah, who would rule over Israel and all over the world (5:2–4). The book of Micah ends with a reminder of God’s covenant promise to Abraham and Jacob. God’s love and mercy are more powerful than his anger.
Outline:
1. Chapters 1 and 2 contain the first section of judgment and deliverance.
2. Chapters 3 through 5 contain the second section of judgement and deliverance.
3. Chapters 6 and 7 contain the third and last section of judgment and deliverance.
Le livre suivant contient les prophéties de Michée, originaire d’une ville en Judée qui s’appelait Moréscheth (1.1 et Jérémie 26.18). Michée a prophétisé pendant les règnes des rois Jotham, Achaz et Ezéchias de Judée. Ceci signifie que son ministère peut se dater entre 750 et 700 ans avant Jésus-Christ, ce qui avoisine la même époque des prophéties d’Esaïe et d’Osée. On ne sait pas si c’était Michée qui a écrit ces prophéties ou bien un de ses disciples. Quelque soit le cas, il est probable que ce livre a été écrit entre 700 et 608 ans avant Jésus-Christ parce qu’on y fait allusion dans le livre de Jérémie.
Les prophéties de Michée alternent entre le jugement de Dieu et son salut. Michée accuse l’Israël et la Judée d’avoir maltraité les pauvres et aussi de cupidité (2.2). Il accuse aussi leurs prophètes de corruption (3.5). Donc Dieu détruirait leurs cités (1.6 et 3.12) et enverrait le peuple en captivité loin de l’Israël et plus tard de la Judée. Mais Dieu se souviendrait aussi de sa promesse et ramènerait un petit nombre de croyants (4.6). Dieu a promis aussi d’envoyer un dirigeant de Bethléem, le Messie, qui régnerait sur l’Israël et sur le monde entier (5.2-4). Le livre de Michée se termine en rappelant la promesse de l’Alliance de Dieu à Abraham et à Jacob. L’amour de Dieu et sa grâce remportent sur son colère.
Résumé de Michée
1. Les chapitres 1 et 2 contiennent la première section consacrée au jugement et à la délivrance.
2. Les chapitres 3 au 5 contiennent la deuxième section consacrée au jugement et à la délivrance.
3. Les chapitres 6 et 7 contiennent la troisième et la dernière section consacrée au jugement et à la délivrance.
Translation: Swahili
Utangulizi kwa Mika
Kitabu kifuatacho kina unabii wa Mika. Mika alikuwa kutoka mji wa Yuda uitwao Moresheth (1: 1 na Yer. 26:18). Alitabiri wakati wa utawala wa Wafalme Yothamu, Ahazi, na Hezekia wa Yuda. Hii inamaa ya kwamba huduma yake ilikuwa kati ya mwaka 750 K.K.(kabla ya kristo) na 700 K.K.(kabla ya kristo), ambayo ni karibu wakati ule ule ambao Isaya na Hosea walitabiri. Haijulikani kama Mika aliandika unabii huu au kama mmoja wa wanafunzi wake alimfanyia. Vyovyote itakavyokuwa, kuna uwezekano kwamba kitabu hicho kiliandikwa kati ya mwaka 700 K.K.(kabla ya kristo) na 608 K.K.(kabla ya kristo) kwa sababu imetajwa katika kitabu cha Yeremi.
Unabii wa Mika huenda na kurudi kati ya hukumu ya Mungu na wokovu wake. Anawalaumu Israeli na Yuda kwa kutowatendea vizuri maskini na kuwa na tamaa (2:2). Anawashutumu manabii wao kuwa ni mafisadi (3:5). Kwa hivyo, Mungu angeharibu miji yao (1: 6 na 3:12) na kuwapeleka utumwani mbali na Israeli na baadaye pia kutoka Yuda. Lakini Mungu pia angekumbuka ahadi yake na kuirudisha idadi ndogo ya waamini (4:6). Mungu pia aliahidi kumtuma kiongozi kutoka Bethlehemu, masihi, ambaye atatawala Israeli na ulimwengu wote (5:2-4). Kitabu cha Mika kinaishia na ukumbusho wa ahadi ya agano la Mungu kwa Ibrahimu na Yakobo. Upendo na rehema ya Mungu vina nguvu zaidi kuliko hasira yake.
Muhtasari:
1. Sura ya 1 na 2 zina sehemu ya kwanza ya hukumu na ukombozi.
2. Sura za 3 hadi 5 zina sehemu ya pili ya hukumu na ukombozi.
3. Sura ya 6 na 7 zina sehemu ya tatu na ya mwisho ya hukumu na ukombozi.
(The Catholic Christian Community Bible [first English edition 1997, other translations into Indonesian, Chinese, Cebuano, Chavacano, French, Ilonggo, Korean, Quechuan, Spanish, and Tagalog] “for the Christian Communities of the Third World” uses the following introduction.)
Micah was Isaiah’s contemporary. He spoke about the same situation, and yet it is easy to see a striking contrast between the two: Micah, a man from the country; Isaiah, distinguished and learned.
Micah was from Moresheth, a village at the edge of the lowland through which all the armies of Assyria and Egypt passed. He was well acquainted with the suffering and the destruction of war and with the exploitation of the peasants as well. One day God called him and gave him strength, justice and courage to go and denounce Israel’s sins. He spoke in the name of a God whom no one loved and violently denounced the injustices which were practiced everywhere.
Some of the words which Micah addressed to Israel, whose ruin was imminent, were later modified to adapt them to the situation of Jerusalem and of the kingdom of Judah, when they were undergoing a similar crisis.
Down below are the introductions in the Mandarin Chinese, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Spanish editions.
Kapanahon ni Isaias si Mikeas. Nagsalita siya tungkol sa parehong mga sitwas¬yon, pero madali pa ring paghambingin ang dalawa: tagabukid si Mikeas at may pinag-aralan naman at kilala si Isaias.
Taga-Moreset si Mikeas, isang nayon sa may hangganan ng kapatagan na dinaraanan ng lahat ng hukbo ng Asiria at Ehipto. Alam niya ang mga paghihirap at mga pagkawasak na hatid ng digmaan, pati ang pagsasamantala sa mga magbubukid. Isang araw, tinawag siya ng Diyos at binigyan ng lakas, katarungan at tapang para simulang ilantad at tuligsain ang mga kasalanan ng Israel. Nagsalita siya sa ngalan ng Diyos na walang sinumang nagmamahal, at buong dahas na inilantad at binatikos ang ginagawang mga pang-aapi sa lahat ng lugar.
Ilan sa mga salitang sinabi ni Mikeas para sa Israel na nalalapit na ang pagkawasak, ang binago paglipas ng ilang panahon para iayon sa kalagayan ng Jerusalem at ng kaharian ng Juda nang ang mga ito ay nahaharap din sa katulad na krisis.
Translation: Cebuano
Si Mikeas katalirongan ni Isaias. Naghisgot siya sa susamang sitwasyon, apan dali ra sab nga mailhan ang kalainan sa duha: Si Mikeas gikan sa baryo; samtang si Isaias, inila ug maalamon nga tawo.
Si Mikeas gikan sa Moreset, balangay daplin sa kapatagan, diin ang kasundalohan sa Asiria ug Ehipto molabay. Sinati kaayo niya ang kalisod ug kadaot sa gubat, ug ang panglupig nga naangkon sa mga mag-uuma. Usa ana ka adlaw, ang Ginoo nagtawag niya ug gihatagan siyag kalig-on, hustisya, ug kaisog sa pag-adto ug pagpanghimaraot sa mga sala sa Israel. Nagsulti siya sa ngalan sa Ginoo, nga walay nahigugma, ug maisogon niyang gipanghimaraot ang mga inhustisya nga gibuhat bisag asa. Sama ni Isaias, diha sa pagpanghimaraot sa katilingban nga iyang gipuy-an, nagbalita siya sa kauswagan nga gitapigan sa Ginoo alang sa Jerusalem sa umaabot nga mga adlaw.
Ang ubang pulong ni Mikeas nga gipadayag sa Israel, kang kansang pagkabungkag umaabot na, gipangusab sa kadugayan aron pagpahaom ini sa situwasyon sa Jerusalem ug sa gingharian sa Juda, dihang miagi sab sila sa susamang krisis.
Translation: Spanish
Miqueas es exactamente contemporáneo de Isaías y habló respecto a las mismas situaciones. Era de Moreset, pueblo a orillas de la llanura por donde pasaban todos los ejércitos de Asiria o Egipto. Conocía los sufrimientos y destrucciones de la guerra y también la explotación del campesino. Un día Dios lo llamó y le dio «fuerza, justicia y valentía» para que fuera a denunciar los pecados de Israel. Habló en nombre de un Dios a quien nadie amaba y denunció con suma violencia las injusticias que se cometían por todas partes. Como Isaías, al condenar la sociedad en que vivía, anunció la prosperidad que Yavé reservaba a Jerusalén en tiempos futuros.
Algunas de las palabras que Miqueas dirigió al pueblo de Israel, cuya ruina era inminente, fueron más tarde modificadas para adaptarlas a la situación de Jerusalén y del Reino de Judá, cuando éstos pasaron por una crisis semejante.
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