The Prophet Acknowledges Injustice

Woe to me! For I am
Like harvests of summer fruit, like gleanings of (A)grapes.
There is not a cluster of grapes left to eat,
Nor an (B)early fig, which [a]I crave.
The [b]godly person has (C)perished from the land,
And there is no upright person among mankind.
All of them lie in wait for (D)bloodshed;
Each of them hunts the other with a (E)net.
As for evil, both hands do it (F)well.
The leader asks for a (G)bribe, also the judge,
And the great one speaks the capricious desire of his soul;
So they plot it together.
The best of them is like a (H)thorn bush,
The most upright like a (I)thorn hedge.
The day [c]when you post your watchmen,
Your (J)punishment is coming.
Then their (K)confusion will occur.
Do not (L)trust in a neighbor;
Do not have confidence in a close friend.
Guard [d]your lips
From her who lies [e]in your arms.
For (M)son disavows father,
Daughter rises up against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
(N)A person’s enemies are the people of his own household.

God Is the Source of Salvation and Light

But as for me, I will (O)be on the watch for the Lord;
I will (P)wait for the God of my salvation.
My (Q)God will hear me.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Micah 7:1 Lit my soul desires
  2. Micah 7:2 Or faithful
  3. Micah 7:4 Lit of your
  4. Micah 7:5 Lit the openings of your mouth
  5. Micah 7:5 Lit on your chest

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