Add parallel Print Page Options

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)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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

The Evil Behavior of the People

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.
The faithful have died off,
    and there is not one upright human being in the land.
They all stalk one another[a] with lethal intent,
    a man will even hunt his own brother with a net.
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.
The best of them is like a thorn,
    and their most upright like a hedge of thorns.
The day announced by[b] your watchmen—
    and by your own calculations—approaches.
        Now it’s your time to be[c] confused!

Don’t trust your friends,
    don’t confide in a companion,
        watch what you say to your wife.[d]
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.[e]

Micah Looks to God

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.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Micah 7:2 The Heb. lacks one another
  2. Micah 7:4 Lit. day of
  3. Micah 7:4 The Heb. lacks time to be
  4. Micah 7:5 Lit. her who lies near your bosom
  5. Micah 7:6 Cf. Matt 10:34-36