Israel’s Moral Decline
1How sad for me!
For I am like one who —
when the summer fruit has been gathered
after the gleaning of the grape harvest Is 24:13 —
finds no grape cluster to eat,
no early fig, which I crave. Is 28:4; Hs 9:10
2Godly people have vanished from the land; Is 57:1
there is no one upright among the people. 1Kg 19:10
All of them wait in ambush to shed blood; Is 59:7; Mc 3:10
they hunt each other with a net. Jr 5:26; Hs 5:1
3Both hands are good Pr 4:16-17 at accomplishing evil:
the official and the judge demand a bribe; Am 5:12; Mc 3:11
when the powerful man communicates his evil desire,
they plot it together.
4The best of them is like a brier; Ezk 2:6; 28:24
the most upright is worse than a hedge of thorns. Nah 1:10
The day of your watchmen,
the day of your punishment, is coming; Is 10:3; Hs 9:7
at this time their panic is here. Is 22:5
5Do not rely on a friend; Jr 9:4
don’t trust in a close companion.
Seal your mouth
from the woman who lies in your arms.
6Surely a son considers his father a fool, Mt 10:21,35-36; Lk 12:53
a daughter opposes her mother,
and a daughter-in-law is against her mother-in-law;
a man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
I will wait for the God of my salvation. Ps 130:5; Is 25:9
My God will hear me. Ps 4:3
Zion’s Vindication
8Do not rejoice over me, Ob 12 my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will stand up; Am 9:11
though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light. Ps 27:1; Is 9:2
9Because I have sinned against Him,
I must endure the Lord’s rage
until He argues my case Jr 50:34
and establishes justice for me. Jb 23:3-7; Lm 3:58
He will bring me into the light; Ps 37:6; Is 42:7,16
I will see His salvation. Or righteousness Is 46:13; 56:1
10Then my enemy will see,
and she will be covered with shame,
the one who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God? ” Ps 42:3,10; 79:10; 115:2; Jl 2:17
My eyes will look at her in triumph;
at that time she will be trampled
like mud in the streets. Ps 18:42; Zch 10:5
11A day will come for rebuilding your walls; Is 54:11; Am 9:11
on that day your boundary will be extended. Zph 2:2
12On that day people will come to you Is 19:23-25; 60:4,9
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
even from Egypt to the Euphrates River
and from sea to sea
and mountain to mountain.
13Then the earth will become a wasteland Jr 25:11; Mc 6:13
because of its inhabitants
and as a result of their actions. Is 3:10-11; Mc 3:4
Micah’s Prayer Answered
the flock that is Your possession.
They live alone Nm 23:9; Dt 33:28 in a woodland
surrounded by pastures.
Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead Jr 50:19
as in ancient times. Am 9:11
15I will perform miracles for them = Israel
as in the days of your exodus
from the land of Egypt. Ex 3:20; 34:10; Ps 78:11-16
16Nations will see and be ashamed
of Or ashamed in spite of all their power.
They will put their hands over their mouths, Mc 3:7
and their ears will become deaf.
17They will lick the dust like a snake; Ps 72:9; Is 49:23
they will come trembling out of their hiding places Ps 18:45
like reptiles slithering on the ground. Dt 32:24
They will tremble in the presence of Yahweh our God; Is 25:3; 59:19
they will stand in awe of You.
18Who is a God like You, Ex 15:11; Ps 71:19; Is 40:18
removing iniquity and passing over rebellion Ex 34:7,9; Is 43:25; Rm 3:25
for the remnant of His inheritance? Mc 2:12; 4:7; 5:7-8
He does not hold on to His anger forever, Ps 103:8-9,13
because He delights in faithful love. Jr 32:41
19He will again have compassion on us;
He will vanquish our iniquities. Jr 50:20
You will cast all our Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read their sins
into the depths of the sea. Ps 103:9-12; Is 38:17; 43:25; Jr 31:34
20You will show loyalty to Jacob Gn 24:27; 32:10
and faithful love to Abraham,
as You swore to our fathers Dt 7:8,12
from days long ago.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®
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by Holman Bible Publishers
