Wait Upon Yahweh
1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
1 Woe is me! For I amLike the fruit pickers, like the (A)grape gatherers.There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,Or a (B)first-ripe fig which (a)I crave.
1 How sad for me!For I am like one who—when the summer fruit has been gatheredafter the gleaning of the grape harvest(A)—finds no grape cluster to eat,no early fig, which I crave.(B)
1 Poor me! I feel like those who harvest summer fruit, or like those who pick grapes there are no clusters to eat or any fresh fruit that I want.
1 Woe is me (judgment is coming)! For I amLike one who gathers the summer fruits, like one who gleans the vintage grapes.There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,No first-ripe fig which my appetite craves.
2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
2 The (b)godly person has (C)perished from the land,And there is no upright person among men.All of them lie in wait for (D)bloodshed;Each of them hunts the other with a (E)net.
2 Godly people have vanished from the land;(C)there is no one upright among the people.(D)All of them wait in ambush to shed blood;(E)they hunt each other with a net.(F)
2 The faithful have died off, and there is not one upright human being in the land. They all stalk one another with lethal intent, a man will even hunt his own brother with a net.
2 The godly person [who is faithful and loyal to God] has perished from the earth,And there is no upright person [one with good character and moral integrity] among men.They all lie in wait to shed blood;Each hunts the other with a net.
3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
3 Concerning evil, both hands do it (F)well.The prince asks, also the judge, for a (G)bribe,And a great man speaks the desire of his soul;So they weave it together.
3 Both hands are good(G) at accomplishing evil:the official and the judge demand a bribe;(H)when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,they plot it together.
3 And speaking of evil, they practice it eagerly with both hands! Both leader and judge demand a bribe, the famous confess their perverted desires, and they scheme together.
3 Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligently and thoroughly;The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul.So they twist the course of justice between them.
4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
4 The best of them is like a (H)briar,The most upright like a (I)thorn hedge.The day when you post your watchmen,Your (J)punishment will come.Then their (K)confusion will occur.
4 The best of them is like a brier;(I)the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns.(J)The day of your watchmen,the day of your punishment, is coming;(K)at this time their panic is here.(L)
4 The best of them is like a thorn, and their most upright like a hedge of thorns. The day announced by your watchmen and by your own calculations approaches. Now it's your time to be confused!
4 The best of them is [injurious] like a briar;The most upright is [prickly] like a thorn hedge.The day of your watchmen [that is, the time predicted by the prophets]And your punishment comes;Now shall be their confusion.
5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
5 Do not (L)trust in a neighbor;Do not have confidence in a friend.From her who lies in your bosomGuard (c)your lips.
5 Do not rely on a friend;(M)don’t trust in a close companion.Seal your mouthfrom the woman who lies in your arms.
5 Don't trust your friends, don't confide in a companion, watch what you say to your wife.
6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
6 For (M)son treats father contemptuously,Daughter rises up against her mother,Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;(N)A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
6 Surely a son considers his father a fool,(N)a daughter opposes her mother,and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law;a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
6 The son disrespects his father, the daughter rebels against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies are the people of his own house.
The Lord's Kindness
7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
7 But as for me, I will (O)watch expectantly for the Lord;I will (P)wait for the God of my salvation.My (Q)God will hear me.
7 But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God who will deliver me. My God will hear me.
7 But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord and with confidence in Him I will keep watch;I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation.My God will hear me.
Zion's Vindication
8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
8 (R)Do not rejoice over me, O (S)my enemy.Though I fall I will (T)rise;Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a (U)light for me.
8 Do not rejoice over me,(R) my enemy!Though I have fallen, I will stand up;(S)though I sit in darkness,the Lord will be my light.(T)
8 Don't be glad on my account, my enemy. When I fall, I'll get up. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD is a light for me.
8 Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy!Though I fall, I will rise;Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the Lord is a light for me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
9 I will bear the indignation of the LordBecause I have sinned against Him,Until He (V)pleads my case and executes justice for me.He will bring me out to the (W)light,And I will see His (d)(X)righteousness.
9 Because I have sinned against Him,I must endure the Lord’s rageuntil He argues my case(U)and establishes justice for me.(V)He will bring me into the light;(W)I will see His salvation.(a)(X)
9 I will endure the LORD's anger since I have sinned against him until he takes over my defense, administers justice on my behalf, and brings me out to the light, where I will gaze on his righteousness.
10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
10 Then my enemy will see,And shame will cover her who (Y)said to me,“Where is the Lord your God?”My eyes will look on her;(e)At that time she will (f)be (Z)trampled downLike mire of the streets.
10 Then my enemy will see,and she will be covered with shame,the one who said to me,“Where is the Lord your God?”(Y)My eyes will look at her in triumph;at that time she will be trampledlike mud in the streets.(Z)
10 Then my enemy will observe it, and shame will engulf the ones who asked me, "Where is the LORD your God?' My own eyes will see them, they will be trampled on like mud in the streets.
10 Then my enemy [all the pagan nations] shall see it,And shame [for despising the Lord] will cover her who said to me,“Where is the Lord your God?”My eyes will look on her [with satisfaction at her judgment];Now she (unbelievers) will be trampled downLike mud of the streets.
Israel Will Return
12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
12 It will be a day when (g)they will (AB)come to youFrom Assyria and the cities of Egypt,From Egypt even to the (h)Euphrates,Even from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.
12 On that day people will come to you(AC)from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,even from Egypt to the Euphrates Riverand from sea to seaand mountain to mountain.
12 At that time armies will invade you from Assyria, from Egyptian cities to the Euphrates River, from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
13 And the earth will become (AC)desolate because of her inhabitants,On account of the (AD)fruit of their deeds.
13 Then the earth will become a wasteland(AD)because of its inhabitantsand as a result of their actions.(AE)
13 The land will become desolate because of its inhabitants, and as a result of their behavior.
13 Yet the earth [beyond the land of Israel] shall become desolate because of those who dwell in it,Because of the fruit of their deeds.
Micah's Prayer Answered
14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
14 (AE)Shepherd Your people with Your (AF)scepter,The flock of Your (i)possessionWhich dwells by itself in the woodland,In the midst of (j)a fruitful field.Let them feed in (AG)Bashan and Gilead(AH)As in the days of old.
14 Shepherd Your people(AF) with Your staff,(AG)the flock that is Your possession.They live alone(AH) in a woodlandsurrounded by pastures.Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead(AI)as in ancient times.(AJ)
14 Use your rod to shepherd your people, the flock that belongs to you, that lives alone in the forest of Carmel. Let them find pasture in Bashan and Gilead, as they did long ago.
14 Shepherd and rule Your people with Your scepter [of blessing],The flock of Your inheritance and Your possessionWhich dwells alone [separate and secure from attack] in the forest,In the midst of a garden land.Let them feed in Bashan and GileadAs in the days of old [the days of Moses and Elijah].
16 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
16 Nations (AJ)will see and be ashamedOf all their might.They will (AK)put their hand on their mouth,Their ears will be deaf.
16 Nations will see and be ashamedof(c) all their power.They will put their hands over their mouths,(AL)and their ears will become deaf.
16 The nations will look on and will be ashamed in spite of all their power; they will cup their hands over their mouths, and their ears will be deaf.
16 The [pagan] nations shall see [God’s omnipotence in delivering Israel] and be ashamedOf all their might [which cannot be compared to His].They shall put their hand on their mouth [in silent astonishment];Their ears shall be deaf.
17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
17 They will (AL)lick the dust like a serpent,Like (AM)reptiles of the earth.They will come (AN)trembling out of their (l)fortresses;To the Lord our God they will come in (AO)dreadAnd they will be afraid before You.
17 They will lick the dust like a snake;(AM)they will come trembling out of their hiding places(AN)like reptiles slithering on the ground.(AO)They will tremble in the presence of Yahweh our God;(AP)they will stand in awe of You.
17 They will lick the dust like a serpent; they will crawl from their strongholds like snakes. They will fear the LORD our God. They will be terrified because of you.
God's Steadfast Love And Compassion
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
18 Who is a God like You, who (AP)pardons iniquityAnd passes over the rebellious act of the (AQ)remnant of His (m)possession?He does not (AR)retain His anger forever,Because He (AS)delights in (n)unchanging love.
18 Who is a God like You,(AQ)removing iniquity and passing over rebellion(AR)for the remnant of His inheritance?(AS)He does not hold on to His anger forever,(AT)because He delights in faithful love.(AU)
18 Is there any God like you, forgiving iniquity, passing over transgressions by the survivors who are your heritage? He is not angry forever, because he delights in gracious love.
18 Who is a God like You, who forgives wickednessAnd passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession?He does not retain His anger forever,Because He [constantly] delights in mercy and lovingkindness.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
19 He will again have compassion on us;(AT)He will tread our iniquities under foot.Yes, You will (AU)cast all (o)their sinsInto the depths of the sea.
19 He will again have compassion on us;He will vanquish our iniquities.(AV)You will cast all our(d) sinsinto the depths of the sea.(AW)
19 He will again show us compassion; he will subdue our iniquities. You will hurl all their sins into the deepest sea.
20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
20 You will give (p)(AV)truth to JacobAnd (q)unchanging love to Abraham,Which You (AW)swore to our forefathersFrom the days of old.
20 You will show loyalty to Jacob(AX)and faithful love to Abraham,as You swore to our fathers(AY)from days long ago.
20 You will remain true to Jacob, and merciful to Abraham, as you promised our ancestors long ago.