Micah 3:8

3:8 But I¹ am full of the courage that the Lord’s Spirit gives,

and have a strong commitment to justice.²

This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion,

and Israel with its sin.³

Micah 6:7

6:7 Will the Lord accept a thousand rams,

or ten thousand streams of olive oil?

Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion,

my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin?⁴

Micah 7:18

7:18 There is no other God like you!⁵

You⁶ forgive sin

and pardon⁷ the rebellion

of those who remain among your people.⁸

You do not remain angry forever,⁹

but delight in showing loyal love.

¹sn The prophet Micah speaks here and contrasts himself with the mercenaries just denounced by the Lord in the preceding verses.

²tn Heb “am full of power, the Spirit of the Lord, and justice and strength.” The appositional phrase “the Spirit of the Lord” explains the source of the prophet’s power. The phrase “justice and strength” is understood here as a hendiadys, referring to the prophet’s strong sense of justice.

³tn Heb “to declare to Jacob his rebellion and to Israel his sin.” The words “this enables me” are supplied in the translation for clarification.

⁴tn Heb “the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul.” The Hebrew term נֶפֶשׁ (nefesh) is often translated “soul,” but the word usually refers to the whole person; here “the sin of my soul” = “my sin.”

⁵tn Heb “Who is a God like you?” The rhetorical question expects the answer, “No one!”

⁶tn Heb “one who.” The prayer moves from direct address (second person) in v. 18a to a descriptive (third person) style in vv. 18b-19a and then back to direct address (second person) in vv. 19b-20. Due to considerations of English style and the unfamiliarity of the modern reader with alternation of persons in Hebrew poetry, the entire section has been rendered as direct address (second person) in the translation.

⁷tn Heb “pass over.”

⁸tn Heb “of the remnant of his inheritance.”

⁹tn Heb “he does not keep hold of his anger forever.”