1Woe is me! For I have become like one who, after the summer fruit has been gathered, after the grape clusters have been gleaned, finds no cluster to eat; there are no first-ripe figs that my soul desires.
2The godly person has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among the people. They all lie in wait for blood; every person hunts his brother with a net.
3Their hands are on what 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.
4The best of them is like a briar. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen— your punishment—is coming; then is the time of their confusion.
5Do not trust in a neighbor. Do not put confidence in a friend. Guard the doors of your mouth from the woman who lies in your bosom.
6For 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.
7But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
8Do not rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me.
9I will bear the indignation of Yahweh 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.
10Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is Yahweh your God?” Then my enemy will see me and will cover her shame. Now she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets.
11A day to build your walls— in that day, he will extend your boundary.
12In 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.
13Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell in it, for the fruit of their doings.
14Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the middle of fertile pastureland let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15“As in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things.”
16The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf.
17They will lick the dust like a serpent. Like crawling things of the earth they will come trembling out of their dens. They will come with fear to Yahweh our God, and will be afraid because of you.
18Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in covenant faithfulness.
19He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot, and you will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
20You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
REV Bible
