MIC 7:1 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

BrLXX Οἴμοι, ὅτι ἐγενήθην ὡς συνάγων καλάμην ἐν ἀμητῷ, καὶ ὡς ἐπιφυλλίδα ἐν τρυγητῳ, οὐχ ὑπάρχοντος βότρυος τοῦ φαγεῖν τὰ πρωτόγονα. οἴμοι ψυχὴ,
(Oimoi, hoti egenaʸthaʸn hōs sunagōn kalamaʸn en amaʸtōi, kai hōs epifullida en trugaʸtōi, ouⱪ huparⱪontos botruos tou fagein ta prōtogona. oimoi psuⱪaʸ, )

BrTr Alas for me! for I am become as one gathering straw in harvest, and as one gathering grape-gleanings in the vintage, when there is no cluster for me to eat the first-ripe fruit: alas my soul!

ULT Woe is me!
⇔ I have become like the gathering of summer fruit,
⇔ and like the grapes that have been gleaned;
⇔ there is no grape cluster to eat,
⇔ no ripe early fig that my soul desires.

UST I am very miserable!
⇔ I am like someone who is hungry, who searches for fruit to eat
⇔ and who finds no grapes or figs to eat
⇔ because all the fruit has been picked.

OEB Woe, woe is me, for I have become
⇔ like a field after harvest,
⇔ like a vineyard after gathering;
⇔ not a cluster of grapes to eat,
⇔ not a fig that anyone desires.

WEBBE Misery is mine!
⇔ Indeed, I am like one who gathers the summer fruits, as gleanings of the vineyard.
⇔ There is no cluster of grapes to eat.
⇔ My soul desires to eat the early fig.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I am depressed!
⇔ Indeed, it is as if the summer fruit has been gathered,
⇔ and the grapes have been harvested.
⇔ There is no grape cluster to eat,
⇔ no fresh figs that I crave so much.

LSV My woe [is] to me,
For I have been as gatherings of summer-fruit,
As gleanings of harvest,
There is no cluster to eat,
The first-ripe fruit has my soul desired.

FBV I'm totally miserable! I've become like someone trying to glean summer fruit after the grape harvest is over. I can't find any grapes to eat, and there are no early figs that I love.

T4T I am very miserable/frustrated!
⇔ I am like [SIM] someone who is hungry, who searches for fruit to pick
⇔ after all the fruit had been picked
⇔ and who finds no grapes or figs to eat.

LEB No LEB MIC 7:1 verse available

BBE Sorrow is mine! for I am as when they have got in the summer fruits, like the last of the grapes: there is nothing for food, not even an early fig for my desire.

Moff Alas for us, alas!
⇔ As when the fruit is gathered,
⇔ and the vintage gleaned,
⇔ there is no bunch of grapes to eat,
⇔ no choice morsel of a fig,

JPS Woe is me! for I am as the last of the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage; there is no cluster to eat; nor first-ripe fig which my soul desireth.

ASV Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth the first-ripe fig.

DRA Woe is me, for I am become as one that gleaneth in autumn the grapes of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat, my soul desired the firstripe figs.

YLT My woe [is] to me, for I have been As gatherings of summer-fruit, As gleanings of harvest, There is no cluster to eat, The first-ripe fruit desired hath my soul.

Drby Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer-fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the vintage. There is no cluster to eat; there is no early fruit [which] my soul desired.

RV Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth the firstripe fig.
(Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth/desires the first ripe fig. )

SLT Wo to me! for I was as the gatherings of the fruit harvest, as the gleanings of the vintage, no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fig.

Wbstr Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fruit.

KJB-1769 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.[fn]
(Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape-gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fruit. )

7.1 when…: Heb. the gatherings of summer

KJB-1611 ¶ [fn]Woe is mee, for I am as when they haue gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eate: my soule desired the first ripe fruit.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation and footnotes)

7:1 Heb. the gatherings of summer.

Bshps Wo is me, I am become as one that goeth a gleanyng in the haruest: there are no mo grapes to eate, yet would I faine with al my hearte haue of the best fruite.
(Woe is me, I am become as one that goeth/goes a gleaning in the harvest: there are no more grapes to eat, yet would I feign with all my heart have of the best fruit.)

Gnva Woe is me, for I am as the sommer gatherings, and as the grapes of the vintage: there is no cluster to eate: my soule desired the first ripe fruites.
(Woe is me, for I am as the summer gatherings, and as the grapes of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fruits. )

Cvdl Wo is me: I am become as one, that goeth a gleenynge in the haruest. There are no mo grapes to eate, yet wolde I fayne (with all my herte) haue of the best frute.
(Woe is me: I am become as one, that goeth/goes a gleaning in the harvest. There are no more grapes to eat, yet would I gladly (with all my herte) have of the best fruit.)

Wycl Wo to me, for Y am maad as he that gaderith in heruest rasyns of grapis; there is no clustre for to ete; my soule desiride figis ripe bifore othere.
(Woe to me, for I am made as he that gathereth/gathers in harvest raisins of grapes; there is no clustre for to eat; my soul desired figs ripe before other.)

Luth Ach, es gehet mir wie einem, der im Weinberge nachlieset, da man keine Trauben findet zu essen, und wollte doch gerne der besten Früchte haben.
(Oh_dear, it goes to_me as/like on, the/of_the in_the vineyards reads, there man no grapes finds to/for eat, and wanted though/but gladly/willingly the/of_the best fruit have.)

ClVg [Væ mihi, quia factus sum sicut qui colligit in autumno racemos vindemiæ ! non est botrus ad comedendum, præcoquas ficus desideravit anima mea.
([Alas/Woe to_me, because became I_am like who/which collects in/into/on autumno racemos vindemiæ ! not/no it_is botrus to comedendum, I_begquas fig_tree desideravit the_soul my. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 7:1–7: Micah lamented about the wickedness of God’s people

This section is a lament of Micah that expresses his sorrow about the lack of righteous people in the land. In 7:1–6, he talked about the wickedness of the people using a combination of figures of speech and direct speech. In 7:7, he concluded the lament by expressing his own hope in the LORD.

Some scholars and versions place 7:7 in the next section. However, expressions of both sorrow and hope are features in some other laments, such as in the Psalms.Psalm 55 is one example. NICOT (pages 383–385). Also, both 7:1 and 7:7 have first-person pronouns and verbs that enclose third-person descriptions in 7:2–6. This change of word forms probably indicates the start and end of the lament.UBS (pages 244–256).

Here are some other examples of section headings:

The Total Corruption of the People (NRSV)

Israel’s Misery (NIV)

Misery Turned to Hope (NLT)

7:1

This verse begins Micah’s lament. He uses similes to describe his disappointment that he cannot find any fruit at harvest time.

There are two main interpretations of the situation depicted by the similes:

There was no fruit left to pick after the fruit and grapes were harvested.Waltke 2007 (pages 416–417) suggests that the harvest was gathered several times so that no gleanings remained. Others that support this interpretation include NAC, WBC, EBC, JFB, and UBS. For example:
I am depressed! indeed, it is as if the summer fruit has been gathered, and the grapes have been harvested. There is no grape cluster to eat, no fresh figs that I crave so much. (NET) (CEV, ESV, BSB, GNT, KJV, NAB, NCV, NET, NJPS, NLT, NRSV, REB)
There was no harvest of fruit and grapes.A&F (pages 565–566) suggest that the vintage had failed. Alternatively, TOTC (page 218) suggests that vandals had stripped the grapes and figs from the vines and trees and left them bare. For example:
Woe is me! For I am like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, Or a first-ripe fig which I crave. (NASB) (GW, NASB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It has support from most commentators and versions.

7:1a

Woe is me!

¶ How sad I am!
¶ I am in misery!

Woe is me!: This expression indicates despair.Feelings of despair, not just disappointment, are explainable in light of the farming practices described in Leviticus 19:9–10. Land owners were required to leave behind any grain or fruit that was missed in the main harvest, so that the poor could gather it for their food. A poor person could starve without this food supply. UBS (pages 244–245) and A&F (pages 565–566). Here are some other ways to express the meaning:

I am depressed! (NET)

It’s hopeless! (GNT)

I feel very sadSuggested by UBS (page 244).

7:1a–e

(combined/reordered)

I feel so empty inside—like someone starving for grapes or figs, after the vines and trees have all been picked clean. (CEV)

7:1b–e

The ESV has been used as the source line for 7:1b–c because it maintains both similes and follows the recommended interpretation.

Notice the two sets of parallel lines that follow the underlined part. The lines in bold have similar meaning and the lines in italics have similar meaning:

^1bFor I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered, (ESV)

^1c as when the grapes have been gleaned: (ESV)

^1d there is no cluster to eat, (ESV, BSB)

^1e no early fig that I crave. (BSB)

There is an ellipsis (a deliberately omitted phrase) in 7:1c. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 7:1b. For example:

^1c I have become as when the grapes have been gleaned:

There are two similes in 7:1b–e. The lines are arranged as a chiasm. Lines 7:1b and 7:1e are parts of a simile about summer fruit. Lines 7:1c and 7:1d are parts of a simile about grapes.

In each simile, Micah compares himself to a person who looks for fruit that is left behind after the fruit harvests are done. In the first simile he looks for summer fruit. In the second simile he looks for grapes.

Some versions combine the two similes into one. See the General Comment on 7:1 for examples.

7:1b

For I am like one gathering summer fruit

I am like someone who searches for summer fruit after it has already been picked,
I am like a fruit picker after a summer harvest,

For: The word For introduces the reason why Micah is in despair. He explains the reason in the verses that follow, 7:1b–6.

(ESV) I have become as…: In Hebrew, this phrase is more literally “I have become like harvests of summer fruit…” The implied meaning of the phrase is that Micah compared himself to a person who found no fruit to eat following a harvest. The way they are similar is that both feel despair.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Keep the simile. For example:
I am like the fruit pickers (NASB)
I am like a hungry person who… (GNT)
I am like those gathering… (GW)
Change the simile into a metaphor. For example:
How wretched I am, a harvester… (NJB)

(ESV) when the summer fruit has been gathered: This line describes the setting or situation of the simile. The harvest of summer fruit has already been completed.

The phrase summer fruit may refer to fruit that grew in the summer season or it may refer to ripe fruit in general.Mounce (page 1033). Some versions leave the word summer implied.

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

and all the summer fruit has been picked (NCV)

when the fruit is gathered (NAB)

7:1c

at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat,

and after all the grapes have been gathered.
and after the grapes have been harvested twice.

(ESV) as when the grapes have been gleaned: This line is more literally “like gleanings of [the] grape harvest.” It describes the setting or situation of the second simile. The harvest of grapes has already been completed.

The word gleaned means that the grapes have been picked a second time after the main harvest.BDB #5955 (page 760) and A&F (page 566).

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

and the grapes have been harvested (NET)

as when the vines have been gleaned (NAB)

7:1d

there is no cluster to eat,

I find none to eat.
There is nothing left to eat!

there is no cluster to eat: This line is the final part of the simile about the grape harvest. The person looks for grapes to eat, but he does not find any.

The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as cluster means “a cluster/bunch of grapes.”BDB #811 (page 79).

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

Make the word “grapes” explicit along with cluster. For example:
not a cluster of grapes (NLT)
Translate the word “grapes” instead of cluster. For example:
there are no grapes left to eat (NCV)

7:1e

no early fig that I crave.

There are no early ripened figs that I crave.
Not even a fresh fig to enjoy!

no early fig that I crave: This line is the final part of the simile about the summer fruit harvest. The person looks for figs to eat but he does not find any.

The phrase early fig refers here to the first figs of the season that appear on the tree in early summer. These figs are especially delicious.HALOT (electronic edition, page 130), BDB #1063 (page 114), and A&F (page 566–568)

Here are some other ways to translate this line:

none of the early figs I love (NCV)

no fresh figs that I crave so much (NET)

all the tasty figs have been picked (GNT)

If grapes and figs are unknown in your language group, you may want to add pictures. You may also want to include descriptions in a footnote.

General Comment on 7:1a–e

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the verse parts, as in the BSB. For example.

What misery is mine! ^1b–cI feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. ^1d–eNot a cluster of grapes or a single fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. (NLT96)

^1a–eI feel so empty inside—like someone starving for grapes or figs, after the vines and trees have all been picked clean. (CEV)

Parallel MIC 7:1

Section 7:1–7: Micah lamented about the wickedness of God’s people

7:1

7:1a

7:1a–e

7:1b–e

7:1b

7:1c

7:1d

7:1e

General Comment on 7:1a–e