Micah 7

1 Woe, woe is me, for I have become like a field after harvest, like a vineyard after gathering; not a cluster of grapes to eat, not a fig that anyone desires.

Misery is mine. Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard: There is no cluster of grapes to eat. My soul desires to eat the early fig.

2 The honest have perished from the land, of the upright among people there is none. All of them lie in wait to shed blood. They hunt one another with the net.

The faithful have vanished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net.

3 Their hands know well how to do evil, the officer and judge demands a bribe, the high official decides as he pleases and they conspire to pervert justice.

Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful man dictates the evil desire of his soul. Thus they conspire together.

4 The best of them are like a thorn thicket, their most upright like a prickly hedge. The day of their punishment has come, now will be their confusion!

The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion.

5 Do not trust your neighbour, do not rely on a friend. From the wife who lies in your arms guard your tongue.

Do not trust in a neighbor. Do not put confidence in a friend. With the woman lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth.

6 For son insults father, daughter rises up against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law, a man’s enemies are the people of his own household.

For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.

7 But I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me!

But as for me, I will look to Jehovah. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.

8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. If I have fallen, I will rise. If I sit in darkness, the Lord is my light.

Do not rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light to me.

9 The anger of the Lord I will bear, for against him have I sinned – until he champions my cause and gives judgment for me. He will bring me into to the light, I will see his justice.

I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my case, and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light. I will see his righteousness.

10 So my enemy will see, and shame will cover them, they who said, ‘Where is the Lord your God?’ I will look upon them, they will be trampled on like mud in the street!

Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, where is Jehovah your God? Then my enemy will see me and will cover her shame. Now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets.

11 It is a day for rebuilding your walls, this day will your boundary will be extended.

A day to build your walls; in that day, he will extend your boundary.

12 This day they will come to you, from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the Euphrates River, from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.

In that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.

13 Though the land has become a desolation because of its inhabitants, because of their deeds.

Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell in it, for the fruit of their doings.

14 Shepherd your flock with your staff, the flock that belong to you, who live alone in the forest, in the midst of meadows; so that they may pasture in Bashon and Gilead as in the days of old,

Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.

15 as in the days when you came from Egypt, gave us wonders to see.

"As in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things."

16 Nations will see and be ashamed of all their might; they will put their hands to their mouth, their ears will become deaf,

The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf.

17 they will lick the dust like snakes, like creatures that crawl on the earth; they will come trembling and in terror from their hiding places, in dread and fear.

They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling creatures of the earth they shall come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to Jehovah our God, and will be afraid because of you.

18 Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing by the rebellion of the remnant of your people? He does not retain his anger forever, but is one who delights in mercy.

Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn't retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.

19 He will tread under foot our iniquity; you will cast into the depths of the sea all our iniquities.

He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and loving kindness to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.

You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.