Micah 7:14-20

New International Reader's Version

Prayer and Praise

¹⁴Lord, be like a shepherd to your people.
    Take good care of them.
They are your flock.
    They live by themselves
    in the safety of a forest.
Rich grasslands are all around them.
    Let them eat grass in Bashan and Gilead
    just as they did long ago.

¹⁵The Lord says to his people,

“I showed you my wonders
when you came out of Egypt long ago.
In the same way, I will show them to you again.”

¹⁶When the nations see those wonders,
    they will be put to shame.
    All their power will be taken away from them.
They will be so amazed
    that they won’t be able to speak or hear.
¹⁷They’ll be forced to eat dust like a snake.
    They’ll be like creatures
    that have to crawl on the ground.
They’ll come out of their dens
    trembling with fear.
They’ll show respect for the Lord our God.
    They will also have respect for his people.
¹⁸Lord, who is a God like you?
    You forgive sin.
You forgive your people
    when they do what is wrong.
You don’t stay angry forever.
    Instead, you take delight in showing
    your faithful love to them.
¹⁹Once again you will show loving concern for us.
    You will completely wipe out
    the evil things we’ve done.
You will throw all our sins
    into the bottom of the sea.
²⁰You will be faithful to Jacob’s people.
    You will show your love
    to Abraham’s children.
You will do what you promised to do for our people.
    You made that promise long ago.