1
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 godly man has perished out of 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 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 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
Don't trust in a neighbor.Don't put confidence in a friend.With the
woman lying in your embrace,be careful of the words of your mouth!
+6
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 as for me, I will look to The LORD.I will wait for the God of my salvation.My God will hear me. +
8
Don't rejoice against me, my enemy.When I fall, I will arise.When I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a
light to me.
+9
I will bear the indignation of The LORD,because I have sinned against him,until he pleads my case, and executes judgment for me.He will bring me out to the light.I will see his righteousness. +
10
Then my enemy will see it,and shame will cover her who said to me,where is the LORD 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
A day to build your walls-In that day, he will extend your boundary. +
12
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
Yet the land will be desolate because of those who
dwell therein,for the
fruit of their doings.
+14
Shepherd your people with your staff,the flock of your heritage,who dwell by themselves in a forest,in the middle of fertile pasture land, let them feed;in
Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
+ 15
"As in the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt,I will show them marvelous things." +
16
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 a serpent.Like crawling things of the
earth they shall come trembling out of their dens.They will come with fear to the LORD our God,and will be afraid because of you.
+18
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 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 give
truth to Jacob,and
mercy to Abraham,as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
Mic 7:1-20. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE CORRUPTION; THE CHOSEN REMNANT, DRIVEN FROM EVERY HUMAN CONFIDENCE, TURNS TO GOD; TRIUMPHS BY FAITH OVER HER ENEMIES; IS COMFORTED BY GOD'S PROMISES IN ANSWER TO PRAYER, AND BY THE CONFUSION OF HER ENEMIES, AND SO BREAKS FORTH INTO PRAISES OF GOD'S CHARACTER.
1. I am as when, &c.--It is the same with me as with one seeking fruits after the harvest, grapes after the vintage. "There is not a cluster" to be found: no "first-ripe fruit" (or "early fig"; see on Isa 28:4) which "my soul desireth" [MAURER]. So I look in vain for any good men left (Mic 7:2).