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.