Micah 7

1 How terrible for me! I have become like someone gathering straw at harvest, like one searching for grape gleanings in the vineyard. There is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit. How terrible for me, my soul!

2 The reverent person has vanished from the earth, and no one among humanity does what is right. They all contend with one another to the point of bloodshed; each one grievously oppresses his neighbor.

3 They prepare their hands for evil. The ruler makes demands, and the judge speaks flattering words— whatever his soul desires. So I will remove

4 their goods like a devouring moth, like one walking along a measuring line on a day of inspection. Woe, woe! Your vengeance has come; now their lamentations will begin.

5 Do not trust friends or put your hope in leaders. Be careful not to confide anything even to the wife who lies beside you.

6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person’s enemies are all those within his own house.

7 But I will look to the Lord. I will wait for God, the one who rescues me. My God will listen to me.

8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

9 I will bear the Lord’s anger because I sinned against him, until he upholds my cause as right. He will decide my case and bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.

10 My enemy will see it, and shame will cover the one who says to me,

“Where is the Lord your God?”

My eyes will look on her. Now she will be trampled like mud in the streets

11 on the day of plastering bricks. That day will wipe you away, and your practices will be wiped away.

12 On that day your cities will be leveled and divided among the Assyrians. Your fortified cities will be divided from Tyre to the river of Syria— a day of water and turmoil.

13 The land will become a ruin together with those who live in it, because of the fruit of their conduct.

14 Shepherd your people with your rod, the sheep of your inheritance, who live alone in the forest in the middle of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago.

15 “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, you will see marvelous things.”

16 The nations will see and be ashamed in spite of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths, and their ears will become deaf.

17 They will lick dust like snakes crawling on the ground. They will be confused in their hiding places. They will be amazed at the Lord our God and will be afraid of you.

18 Who is a God like you, removing wrongdoing and passing over the ungodly acts of those who remain from his inheritance? He did not keep his anger as a testimony, because he delights in mercy.

19 He will turn back and have pity on us. He will sink our wrongdoings and throw all our sins into the depths of the sea.

20 You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, as you swore to our ancestors in days long ago.