Micah 7

1Woe to me! For I am like summer fruit gatherers, like gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desired the first-ripe fruit.

2The faithful man has perished from the earth, and no upright one remains among mortals; they all lie in ambush for innocent blood, every man hunting his brother with a net.

3They set both hands to evil to perfect it; the ruler asks, the judge seeks recompense, and the great man—he voices his soul's mischief—and they entwine it.

4Their best are like a brier, the upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, your visitation, has come; now their perplexity will be.

5Do not trust a companion; do not confide in an intimate friend—from her who lies in your embrace, guard the doors of your mouth.

6For a son disgraces his father, a daughter rises against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his house.

7But as for me, I will watch for Yahweh; I will hope for the God of my salvation—my God will hear me.

8Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. When I fall, I arise; when I sit in darkness, Yahweh is light to me.

9I will bear Yahweh's wrath because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and performs justice for me; he will bring me out to the light, and I will see his righteousness.

10My enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, "Where is Yahweh your God?" My eyes will see her; now she will be trampled like the mire of the streets.

11The day for building your walls— that day will extend the boundary.

12In that day he will come to you from Assyria and the fortified cities, from the stronghold to the river, from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain.

13The land will become desolate because of those who dwell in it, for the fruit of their deeds.

14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage who dwell alone in the forest in the midst of Carmel; let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead, as in ancient days.

15As in the days of your coming out from the land of Egypt, I will show him wonders.

16Nations will see and be ashamed of all their might; they will lay a hand on their mouth, their ears will go deaf.

17They will lick dust like a serpent, like crawling things of the earth; they will tremble from their dens to Yahweh our God, afraid and in dread of you.

18Who is a God like you, who bears iniquity and passes over transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

19He will turn again and show us compassion; he will subdue our iniquities, and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20You will grant faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you swore to our fathers from ancient days.