Open English Translation MIC Chapter 7

7 I’m miserable because I’ve become like the gathering of left-over fruit,

and like the grapes that have already been gleaned.

There’s no grape clusters to eat,

and none of the ripe early figs that I really felt like.

2 The faithful people have disappeared from the land.

There is no godly person among all mankind.

They all lie in wait to shed blood—

each one hunts his own fellow countryman with a net.

3 They’re very good at doing harm:

the leader asks for money,

≈the judge is ready for bribes,

and the powerful man is telling others what he wants to obtain,

and so they scheme together.

4 The best of them is like a thorn-bush.

≈The most upright is worse than a prickly hedge.

It’s the day foretold by your watchmen—

the day of your punishment.

Now is the time of their confusion.

5 Don’t trust any neighbour.

≈Put no confidence in any friend.

Be careful about what you say

even to the woman who lies in your arms,

6 because sons dishonour their fathers,

≈daughters rise up against their mothers,

≈and daughters-in-law against their mothers-in-law.

A person’s enemies are the people in their own household.[ref]

7 But as for me, I’ll look out for Yahweh.

≈I’ll wait for the God who saves me.

My God will hear me.

8 Don’t be happy about what happened to me, my enemy.

After I fall, I’ll get up and stand again.

When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light for me.

9 Because I sinned against Yahweh, I’ll endure his rage

until he pleads my cause on my behalf, and executes judgment for me.

≈He’ll bring me to the light, and I’ll see him rescue me in his justice.

10 Then my enemy will see it,

and shame will cover the one who said to me,

“Where is Yahweh your God?”

My eyes will look at her;

she’ll be trampled down like the mud in the streets.

11 The time will come for rebuilding your walls.

On that day your boundaries will be greatly expanded.

12 On that day your people will come to you,

from Assyria and the cities in Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim),

≈from Egypt to the Euphrates River,

from sea to sea,

≈and from mountain to mountain.

13 But the land will be desolate

because of the people who are living there,

because of the fruit of their actions.

14 Shepherd your people with your staff—

the flock of your inheritance.

They live alone in a forest,

surrounded by pastureland.

Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the old days.

15 Just like in the days when you were rescued out of Egypt,

I’ll display miracles to them.

16 The nations will see and be ashamed of all their power.

They’ll put their hands over their mouths—

and act like their ears are deaf.

17 They’ll lick the dust like a snake—

≈like creatures that crawl on the earth.

They’ll be trembling as they come out of their fortresses.

≈They’ll come with fear to you, our God Yahweh,

≈and they’ll be afraid because of you.

18 What other God is there like you, who takes away sin?

Who forgives the disobedience of the remnant of his inherited people?

He doesn’t stay angry forever,

because he happily demonstrates his loyal commitment.

19 You’ll have compassion on us yet again.

You’ll wipe away our disobedience.

≈You will throw all our sins into the deepest parts of the sea.

20 You’ll give truth to Yakob (Jacob)

≈and loyal commitment to Abraham,

as you promised to our ancestors long ago.