Geneva Study Bible 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. Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the {a} summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
(a) The Prophet takes upon himself the voice of the earth, which complains that all her fruits are gone, so that none are left: that is, that there is no godly man remaining, for all are given to cruelty and deceit, so that none spares his own brother. The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: {b} they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
(b) He shows that the prince, the judge, and the rich man are all linked together to do evil, and to disguise the deeds of one another. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the {c} great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so {d} they wrap it up.
(c) That is, the rich man that is able to give money, abstains from no wickedness or injury. (d) These men agree among themselves, and conspire with one another to do evil. The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. The best of them is as {e} a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of {f} thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
(e) They that are of most estimation and are counted most honest among them, are but thorns and briers to prick. (f) Meaning the prophets and governors. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Therefore {g} I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
(g) The Prophet shows that the only remedy for the godly in desperate evils, is to flee to God for help. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. Rejoice not against me, {h} O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
(h) This is spoken in the voice of the Church, which calls the malignant church her enemy. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. In {i} the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall {k} the decree be far removed.
(i) That is, when God will show himself to be a deliverer of his Church, and a destroyer of his enemies. (k) Meaning the cruel empire of the Babylonians. In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. In that day also he shall come even to thee from {l} Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
(l) When the Church will be restored, those that were enemies before will come out of all the corners of the world to her, so that neither fortresses, rivers, seas, nor mountains will be able to stop them. Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings. Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of {m} their doings.
(m) Before this grace appears, he shows how grievously the hypocrites themselves will be punished, seeing that the earth itself, which cannot sin, will be made waste because of their wickedness. Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. {n} Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
(n) The Prophet prays to God to be merciful to his Church, when they would be scattered abroad as in solitary places in Babylon, and to be beneficial to them as in times past. According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. {o} According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.
(o) God promises to be favourable to his people, as he had been before. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall {p} lay their hand upon their mouth, {q} their ears shall be deaf.
(p) They will be as dumb men, and dare brag no more. (q) They will be astonished and afraid to hear men speak, lest they should hear of their destruction. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee. They shall {r} lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.
(r) They will fall flat on the ground because of fear. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and {s} passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
(s) As though he did not see it, ignoring it. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all {t} their sins into the depths of the sea.
(t) Meaning his elect. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. Thou wilt perform the {u} truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old. (u) The Church is assured that God will perform the truth of his merciful promise, which he had made long ago to Abraham, and to all that would apprehend the promise by faith. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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