Wait Upon Yahweh

1 My woe is to me, for I have been As gatherings of summer-fruit, As gleanings of harvest, There is no cluster to eat, The first-ripe fruit desired hath my soul.

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 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 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.

2 Perished hath the kind out of the land, And upright among men -- there are none, All of them for blood lie in wait, Each his brother they hunt 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 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 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.

3 On the evil are both hands to do it well, The prince is asking -- also the judge -- for recompence, And the great -- he is speaking the mischief of his soul, And 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 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 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.

4 Their best one is as a brier, The upright one -- than a thorn-hedge, The day of thy watchmen -- Thy visitation -- hath come. Now is 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 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 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!

5 Believe not in a friend, trust not in a leader, From her who is lying in thy bosom keep the openings of thy mouth.

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 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 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 a son is dishonouring a father, A daughter hath stood against her mother, A daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, The enemies of each are the men of his 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 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 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 And I -- in Jehovah I do watch, I do wait for the God of my salvation, Hear me doth my God.

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 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

7 But I will look to the Lord;(O)I will wait for the God of my salvation.(P)My God will hear me.(Q)

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.

Zion's Vindication

8 Thou dost not rejoice over me, O mine enemy, When I have fallen, I have risen, When I sit in darkness Jehovah is a light to 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 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 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.

9 The indignation of Jehovah I do bear, For I have sinned against Him, Till that He doth plead my cause, And hath executed my judgment, He doth bring me forth to the light, I look on 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 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 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 And see doth mine enemy, And cover her doth shame, Who saith unto me, 'Where is Jehovah thy God?' Mine eyes do look on her, Now she is for a treading-place, As mire of the out-places.

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 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 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.

Israel Will Return

11 The day to build thy walls! That day -- removed is the limit.

11 It will be a day for (AA)building your walls.On that day will your boundary be extended.

11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.

11 A day will come for rebuilding your walls;(AA)on that day your boundary will be extended.(AB)

11 When the time comes for rebuilding your walls, that time will surely be extended.

12 That day -- even unto thee it doth come in, From Asshur and the cities of the fortress, And from the fortress even unto the river, And from sea to sea, and mount to mount.

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 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 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 And the land hath been for a desolation, Because of its inhabitants, Because of 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 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

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.

Micah's Prayer Answered

14 Rule Thou Thy people with Thy rod, The flock of Thine inheritance, Dwelling alone in a forest in the midst of Carmel, They enjoy Bashan and Gilead as in 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 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 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.

15 According to the days of thy coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I do shew it wonderful things.

15 “As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt,I will show (k)(AI)you miracles.”

15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

15 I will perform miracles for them(b)as in the days of your exodusfrom the land of Egypt.(AK)

15 As I did when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show you awesome things.

16 See do nations, and they are ashamed of all their might, They lay a hand on the mouth, their ears are 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 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 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.

17 They lick dust as a serpent, as fearful things of earth, They tremble from their enclosures, Of Jehovah our God they are afraid, Yea, they are afraid 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 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 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 Thee? taking away iniquity, And passing by the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance, He hath not retained for ever His anger, Because He -- He delighteth in kindness.

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 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,(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.

19 He doth turn back, He pitieth us, He doth subdue our iniquities, And Thou castest into the depths of the sea all their sins.

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 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;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 givest truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham, That thou hast sworn to our fathers, from the days of antiquity!

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 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 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.

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