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Wait Upon Yahweh

Woe is me! For I have become
    like the gatherings of summer,
    like the gleanings of the grape harvest,
when there is no cluster of grapes to eat
    or early ripened fruit that my soul desires.
The faithful person has perished from the land,
    and there is none who is upright among humankind.
All of them lie in wait;
    each hunts his brother with a net.
Their hands are upon evil, to do it well;
    the official and the judge ask for the bribe,
and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;
    and they weave it together.
The best of them is like a brier;
    the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
The day of your watchman, your punishment, has come;
    now their confusion will come.
Do not put faith in a friend;
    put no trust in a close friend.
Guard the doorways of your mouth
    from the one who lies in your lap.
For a son treats a father with contempt;
    a daughter rises up against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
    the enemies of a man are the men of his own house.
But as for me, I will look to Yahweh;
    I will wait for the God of my salvation.
    My God will hear me.

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The prophet laments

I’m doomed!
    I’ve become like one who,
        even after the summer fruit has been gathered,
        after the ripened fruits have been collected,
            has no cluster of grapes to eat,
            no ripe fig that I might desire.
Faithful ones have perished from the land;
        there is no righteous one among humanity.
    All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;
        they hunt each other with nets.
Their hands are skilled at doing evil.
    Official and judge alike ask for a bribe;
        the powerful speak however they like;
            this is how they conspire.
The good among them are like a briar;
        those who do the right thing are like a thorny thicket.
            (A day for your lookouts![a]
            Your punishment has arrived.
            The confusion of the wicked[b] is nearby.)
Don’t rely on a friend;
        put no trust in a companion;
        guard the doors of your mouth from she who lies in your embrace.
Son disrespects father;
        a daughter rises up against her mother,
        a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
        the enemies of a man are those of his own household.
But me! I will keep watch for the Lord;
        I will wait for the God of my salvation;
            my God will hear me.

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Footnotes

  1. Micah 7:4 Heb uncertain
  2. Micah 7:4 Heb lacks the wicked.