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The Total Corruption of the People

Woe is me! For I have become like one who,
    after the summer fruit has been gathered,
    after the vintage has been gleaned,
finds no cluster to eat;
    there is no first-ripe fig for which I hunger.(A)
The faithful have disappeared from the land,
    and there is no one left who is upright;
they all lie in wait for blood,
    and they hunt each other with nets.(B)
Their hands are skilled to do evil;
    the official and the judge ask for a bribe,
and the powerful dictate what they desire;
    thus they pervert justice.[a](C)
The best of them is like a brier,
    the most upright of them a thorn hedge.
The day of their[b] sentinels, of their[c] punishment, has come;
    now their confusion is at hand.(D)
Put no trust in a friend;
    have no confidence in a loved one;
guard the doors of your mouth
    from her who lies in your embrace,
for the son treats the father with contempt,
    the daughter rises up against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
    your enemies are members of your own household.(E)
But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
    I will wait for the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 7.3 Cn: Heb they weave it
  2. 7.4 Heb your
  3. 7.4 Heb your

The Prophet’s Lament

I am miserable.
I have become like someone gathering summer fruit
        when it is time to glean the vineyard.

    There is no bunch of grapes to eat,
    none of the early figs I crave.
The faithful[a] have been carried off from the land.
    There is no one upright among mankind.
    They all lie in wait for blood.
    Each one hunts his brother with a net.
Both hands are skilled at evil.
    The officials ask for bribes,
    and the judges as well.
    The important man says what he wants.
    Together, they plot it out.
The best of them is like a brier bush,
    the most upright like a hedge of thorns.
    The day for your watchman,
    the day for your punishment has come.
    Now confusion[b] has come for them.

Do not trust a neighbor.
    Do not put confidence in a close friend.
    Watch what comes out of your mouth,
        even when you lie down with the wife you embrace.
For a son will declare that his father is a fool.
    A daughter will rise up against her mother,
    and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
    A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

But as for me, I will keep watching for the Lord.
    I will wait for God my Savior.
    My God will hear me.

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 7:2 Or the merciful
  2. Micah 7:4 Or panic