The Evil Behavior of the People

1Poor me!

I feel like those who harvest summer fruit,

or like those who pick grapes—

there are no clusters to eat

or any fresh fruit that I want.

2The faithful have died off,

and there is not one upright human being in the land.

They all stalk one anothera with lethal intent,

a man will even hunt his own brother with a net.

3And speaking of evil,

they practice it eagerly—with both hands!

Both leader and judge demand a bribe,

the famous confess their perverted desires,

and they scheme together.

4The best of them is like a thorn,

and their most upright like a hedge of thorns.

The day announced byb your watchmen—

and by your own calculations—approaches.

Now it’s your time to bec confused!

5Don’t trust your friends,

don’t confide in a companion,

watch what you say to your wife.d

6The son disrespects his father,

the daughter rebels against her mother,

the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,

and a man’s enemies are the people of his own house.e

Micah Looks to God

7But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

I will wait for the God who will deliver me.

My God will hear me.

8Don’t be glad on my account, my enemy.

When I fall, I’ll get up.

Though I sit in darkness,

the LORD is a light for me.

9I will endure the LORD’s anger—

since I have sinned against him—

until he takes over my defense,

administers justice on my behalf,

and brings me out to the light,

where I will gaze on his righteousness.

10Then my enemy will observe it,

and shame will engulf the onesf who asked me,

‘Where is the LORD your God?’

My own eyes will see them,g

theyh will be trampled on like mud in the streets.

A Word of Restoration

11When the time comesi for rebuilding your walls,

that timej will surely be extended.k

12At that timel armiesm will invade you from Assyria,

from Egyptian cities to the Euphratesn River,

from sea to sea

and from mountain to mountain.

13The land will become desolate

because of its inhabitants,

and as a result of their behavior.

14Use your rod to shepherd your people,

the flock that belongs to you,

that lives alone in the forest of Carmel.

Let them find pasture in Bashan and Gilead,

as they did long ago.

15As I did wheno you came out of the land of Egypt,

I will show youp awesome things.

16The nations will look on

and will be ashamed in spite of all their power;

they will cup their hands over their mouths,

and their ears will be deaf.

17They will lick the dust like a serpent;

they will crawl from their strongholds like snakes.

They will fear the LORD our God.

They will be terrified because of you.

Who is like God?

18Is there any God like you,

forgiving iniquity,

passing over transgressions by the survivors who are yourq heritage?r

He is not angry forever,

because he delights in gracious love.

19He will again show us compassion;

he will subdue our iniquities.

You will hurl all their sins into the deepest sea.

20You will remain true to Jacob,

and merciful to Abraham,

as you promised our ancestors long ago.