Micah 7

Chapter 7

Misery Turned to Hope

1 How miserable I am!
I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest
who can find nothing to eat.
Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig
can be found to satisfy my hunger.2 The godly people have all disappeared;
not one honest person is left on the earth.
They are all murderers,
setting traps even for their own brothers.3 Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil!
Officials and judges alike demand bribes.
The people with influence get what they want,
and together they scheme to twist justice.4 Even the best of them is like a brier;
the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns.
But your judgment day is coming swiftly now.
Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.5 Don’t trust anyone—
not your best friend or even your wife!6 For the son despises his father.
The daughter defies her mother.
The daughter-in-law defies her mother-in-law.
Your enemies are right in your own household!7 As for me, I look to the LORD for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me,
and my God will certainly hear me.8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies!
For though I fall, I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.9 I will be patient as the LORD punishes me,
for I have sinned against him.
But after that, he will take up my case
and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
The LORD will bring me into the light,
and I will see his righteousness.10 Then my enemies will see that the LORD is on my side.
They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying,
“So where is the LORD—
that God of yours?”
With my own eyes I will see their downfall;
they will be trampled like mud in the streets.11 In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt,
and your borders will be extended.12 People from many lands will come and honor you—
from Assyria all the way to the towns of Egypt,
from Egypt all the way to the Euphrates River,t
and from distant seas and mountains.13 But the landt will become empty and desolate
because of the wickedness of those who live there.

The LORD’s Compassion on Israel

14 O LORD, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff;
lead your flock, your special possession.
Though they live alone in a thicket
on the heights of Mount Carmel,t
let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead
as they did long ago.15 “Yes,” says the LORD,
“I will do mighty miracles for you,
like those I did when I rescued you
from slavery in Egypt.”16 All the nations of the world will stand amazed
at what the LORD will do for you.
They will be embarrassed
at their feeble power.
They will cover their mouths in silent awe,
deaf to everything around them.17 Like snakes crawling from their holes,
they will come out to meet the LORD our God.
They will fear him greatly,
trembling in terror at his presence.18 Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!20 You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

MICAH 7

Israel Is Corrupt

1 I feel so empty inside—
like someone starving
for grapes or figs,
after the vines and trees
have all been picked clean.

2 No one is loyal to God;
no one does right.
Everyone is brutal
and eager to deceive
everyone else.

3 People cooperate to commit crime.
Judges and leaders demand bribes,
and rulers cheat in court.t

4 The most honest of them
is worse than a thorn patch.
Your doom has come!
Lookouts sound the warning,
and everyone panics.

5 Don't trust anyone,
not even your best friend,
and be careful what you say
to the one you love.

6  t Sons refuse to respect
their own fathers,
daughters rebel against
their own mothers,
and daughters-in-law despise
their mothers-in-law.
Your family is now your enemy.

7 But I trust the [Lord] God
to save me,
and I will wait for him
to answer my prayer.

The Nation Turns to God

8 My enemies, don't be glad
because of my troubles!
I may have fallen,
but I will get up;
I may be sitting in the dark,
but the [Lord] is my light.

9 I have sinned against the [Lord].
And so I must endure his anger,
until he comes to my defense.
But I know that I will see him
making things right for me
and leading me to the light.

10 You, my enemies, said,
“The [Lord] God is helpless.”
Now each of you
will be disgraced
and put to shame.
I will see you trampled
like mud in the street.

A Bright Future

11 Towns of Judah, the day is coming
when your walls will be rebuilt,
and your boundaries enlarged.

12 People will flock to you
from Assyria and Egypt,
from Babyloniat
and everywhere else.

13 Those nations will suffer disaster
because of what they did.

Micah's Prayer and //the [Lord]'s Answer

14 Lead your people, [Lord]!
Come and be our shepherd.
Grasslands surround us,
but we live in a forest.
So lead us to Bashan and Gilead, t
and let us find pasture
as we did long ago.

15 I, the [Lord], will work miracles
just as I did when I led you
out of Egypt.

16 Nations will see this
and be ashamed because
of their helpless armies.
They will be in shock,
unable to speak or hear,

17 because of their fear of me,
your [Lord] and God.
Then they will come trembling,
crawling out of their fortresses
like insects or snakes,
lapping up the dust.

No One Is Like God

The people said:

18 Our God, no one is like you.
We are all that is left
of your chosen people,
and you freely forgive
our sin and guilt.
You don't stay angry forever;
you're glad to have pity

19 and pleased to be merciful.
You will trample on our sins
and throw them in the sea.

20 You will keep your word
and be faithful to Jacob
and to Abraham,
as you promised our ancestors
many years ago.