Israel's Great Misery
1Woeis me! for I am as when they have gatheredthe summer fruits,as the grapegleaningsof the vintage:[there is] no clusterto eat:my souldesiredthe firstripe fruit.
2The good[man] is perishedout of the earth:and [there is] none uprightamong men:they all lie in waitfor blood;they huntevery manhis brotherwith a net.
3That they may do evilwith both handsearnestly,the princeasketh,and the judge[asketh] for a reward;and the great[man], he utterethhis mischievousdesire:so they wrap it up.
4The bestof them [is] as a brier:the most upright[is sharper] than a thorn hedge:the dayof thy watchmen[and] thy visitationcometh;now shall be their perplexity.
5Trustye not in a friend,put ye not confidencein a guide:keepthe doorsof thy mouthfrom her that liethin thy bosom.
6For the sondishonoureththe father,the daughterriseth upagainst her mother,the daughter in lawagainst her mother in law;a man'senemies[are] the menof his own house.
Israel Looks to the Lord
7Therefore I will lookunto the LORD;I will waitfor the Godof my salvation:my Godwill hearme.
8Rejoicenot against me, O mine enemy:when I fall,I shall arise;when I sitin darkness,the LORD[shall be] a lightunto me.
9I will bearthe indignationof the LORD,because I have sinnedagainst him, until he pleadmy cause,and executejudgmentfor me: he will bring me forthto the light,[and] I shall beholdhis righteousness.
10Then [she that is] mine enemyshall see[it], and shameshall coverher which saidunto me, Where is the LORDthy God?mine eyesshall beholdher: now shall she be trodden downas the mireof the streets.
11[In] the daythat thy wallsare to be built,[in] that dayshall the decreebe far removed.
12[In] that day[also] he shall comeeven to thee from Assyria,and [from] the fortifiedcities,and from the fortresseven to the river,and from seato sea,and [from] mountainto mountain.
13Notwithstanding the landshall be desolatebecause of them that dwelltherein, for the fruitof their doings.
God's Compassion on Israel
14Feedthy peoplewith thy rod,the flockof thine heritage,which dwellsolitarily[in] the wood,in the midstof Carmel:let them feed[in] Bashanand Gilead,as in the daysof old.
15According to the daysof thy comingout of the landof Egyptwill I shewunto him marvellous[things].
16The nationsshall seeand be confoundedat all their might:they shall lay[their] handupon [their] mouth,their earsshall be deaf.
17They shall lickthe dustlike a serpent,they shall moveout of their holeslike wormsof the earth:they shall be afraidof the LORDour God,and shall fearbecause of thee.
18Who [is] a Godlike unto thee, that pardonethiniquity,and passeth bythe transgressionof the remnantof his heritage?he retainethnot his angerfor ever,because he delighteth[in] mercy.
19He will turn again,he will have compassionupon us; he will subdueour iniquities;and thou wilt castall their sinsinto the depthsof the sea.
20Thou wilt performthe truthto Jacob,[and] the mercyto Abraham,which thou hast swornunto our fathersfrom the daysof old.
