In verse 7 Good News Translation has applied much the same method as in verse 6. The “seers” and “diviners” of Revised Standard Version are put together into one general expression, Those who predict the future. The parallel verbs “disgraced” and “put to shame” (Revised Standard Version) are brought together in will be disgraced by their failure. The terms “seers” and “diviners” are not well known in most English-speaking countries, and Good News Translation is probably right to find a more general expression for them. But there will be many societies that have excellent translations for these two words, and translators should use equivalent terms when they are well known.

Good News Translation adds the words by their failure to show why these people are disgraced. If translators are using specific terms for “seers” and “diviners,” they may need to add a little more information such as “their failure to predict the future” or “because they are not able to speak God’s message.”

The covering of “their lips” (Revised Standard Version) is a gesture that shows shame (Lev 13.45) or grief (Ezek 24.17, 22). Here Good News Translation takes it to show shame and states this meaning plainly as They will all be humiliated, without mentioning the action itself. There are probably few modern cultures where people cover their mouths as a sign of shame or grief, and if translators decide to mention the gesture, they would do well to include the meaning of it; for example, “they will all cover their lips to show that they are ashamed.”

The reason for their shame is that the prophets will suffer the same fate as the leaders of the nation in verse 4: God does not answer them. The prophets who thought they could use their position of privilege as a means of making money will find that they cannot mock God. In times of desperate crisis, when a true word from God is most needed, those who spoke words of comfort in return for payment will have no message at all to pass on.

Since there is no specific reference to these people asking God anything, some translators may think that it will be confusing simply to say God does not answer them. The meaning is that, in order to predict the future, they must in some way inquire of God about it, and he must answer them. The fact that they inquire can be included in the translation if necessary.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. et al. A Handbook on Micah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1978, 1982, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .