The Prophet Acknowledges Injustice
1 Woe is me (judgment is coming)! For I am
Like one who gathers the summer fruits, like one who gleans the vintage grapes.
There is not a cluster of grapes to eat,
No first-ripe fig which my appetite craves.
2 The godly person [who is faithful and loyal to God] has perished from the earth,
And there is no uprightperson[one with good character and moral integrity] among men.
They all lie in wait to shed blood;
Each hunts the other with a net.
3 Concerning evil, both of their hands pursue it and do it diligentlyandthoroughly;
The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe,
And a great man speaks the [evil] desire of his soul.
So they twist the course of justice between them.
4 The best of them is [injurious] like a briar;
The most upright is [prickly] like a thorn hedge.
The day of your watchmen [that is, the time predicted by the prophets]
And your punishment comes;
Now shall be their confusion.
5 Do not trust in a neighbor [because of the moral corruption in the land];
Do not have confidence in a friend.
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.
6 For the son dishonors the fatherandtreats him contemptuously,
The daughter rises up [in hostility] against her mother,
The daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–
A man’s enemies are the men (members) of his own household.
God Is the Source of Salvation and Light
7 But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lordandwith confidence in Him I will keep watch;
I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.
8 Do not rejoice over me [amid my tragedies], O my enemy!
Though I fall, I will rise;
Though I sit in the darkness [of distress], the Lordis a light for me.
9 I will bear the indignationandwrath of the Lord
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light,
And I will behold His [amazing] righteousnessandHis remarkable deliverance.
10 Then my enemy [all the pagan nations] shall see it,
And shame [for despising the Lord] will cover her who said to me,
“Where is the Lordyour God?”
My eyes will look on her [with satisfaction at her judgment];
Now she (unbelievers) will be trampled down
Like mud of the streets.
11 It shall bea day for building your walls,
On that day the boundary [of Israel] shall be [greatly] extended.
12 Itshall bea day whenthe Gentiles will come to you
From Assyria and from the cities of Egypt,
And from Egypt even to the river Euphrates,
From sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
13 Yet the earth [beyond the land of Israel] shall become desolate because of those who dwell in it,
Because of the fruit of their deeds.
14 Shepherdandrule Your people with Your scepter [of blessing],
The flock of Your inheritanceandYour possession
Which dwells alone [separate and secure from attack] in the forest,
In the midst of a garden land.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
As in the days of old [the days of Moses and Elijah].
15 “As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt,
I shall show you marvelousandmiraculous things.”
16 The [pagan] nations shall see [God’s omnipotence in delivering Israel] and be ashamed
Of all their might [which cannot be compared to His].
They shall put their hand on their mouth [in silent astonishment];
Their ears shall be deaf.
17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent;
Like crawling things of the earth
They shall come trembling out of their fortressesandhiding places.
They shall turnandcome with fearanddread to the Lordour God
And they shall be afraidandstand in awe before You [O Lord].
18 Who is a God like You, who forgives wickedness
And passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He [constantly] delights in mercyandlovingkindness.
19 He shall again have compassion on us;
He will subdueandtread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power].
Yes, You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea.
20 You shall give truth to Jacob
And lovingkindnessandmercy to Abraham,
As You have sworn to our forefathers
From the days of old.