Micah 7

Micah 7:1

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, that I can find so small comfort of my labours! it is with me, as with a man, that, after the vintage is past, seeks for a cluster of grapes, but can find none to eat: even so hath my soul desired, after all my preaching, to find some godly men, which would have been to me no less pleasing than the first ripe grape is to the palate, and behold, there is none to be found.

Micah 7:3

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 desires: so they wrap it up.

That there may be no slackening of their endeavours to do evil, on all hands; the very princes and judges of my people seek after bribes, to corrupt justice: the great man doth not modestly smother his wicked desires of unlawful gain, but openly professeth it; and so they contrive their mischief accordingly.

Micah 7:4

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 very best of them tears and scratches like a brier: the most upright wounds and pricks deeper than a thorn hedge: therefore there is judgment ready at hand for them; the day is coming of thy sharp visitation, wherein thy rulers and false prophets shall be plagued for their corruption; even now is their perplexity at hand.

Micah 7:5

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.

Ye shall be put to such straits, that every one shall be glad to shift for himself in silence; not daring to trust to a friend or to a guide, or to disclose his counsel to the wife that lies in his bosom.

Micah 7:6

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.

But every one shall be so intent upon his own escape and preservation, as that the son will not spare the honour of his F 2 father, if that shall lie in his way; the daughter will be casting off the respects due to her mother, and much more the daughter-in-law will put off all regard of her mother-in-law; and a man shall be justly suspicious of his own followers and domestic servants, lest they shall betray him.

Micah 7:7

Therefore I will look unto the LORD.

Thus shall men be distracted with their fears; but, as for me, I will look unto the Lord.

Micah 7:8

Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise.

Rejoice not too much in my misery, O Idumea and Babylon: though I fall into captivity, yet I shall arise.

Micah 7:10

Now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

Now shall Babylon be subdued, and trampled under feet, by the Medes and Persians.

Micah 7:11

In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.

In that day, that thy walls, O Jerusalem, are to be re-edified, in that day shall the decree, that was procured for the hinderance of the work, be laid aside, and the endeavour of thine opposites shall be frustrated.

Micah 7:12

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 shall those of Judah and Israel flock to thee out of Assyria, and from the strong cities of Egypt, and shall be re-established in their wonted fortresses, even as far as to the bounds of Euphrates, and from one sea to another, all the land over.

Micah 7:13

Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate.

Notwithstanding, in the mean time, for a space the land shall be desolate.

Micah 7:14

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.

In this mean time, O God, take thou care of thy people: Oh, do thou feed and govern them, by thy gracious protection: lead thou this flock of thine heritage, which now dwell solitarily in the wilderness of their captivity, into the midst of thy fruitful pastures of Carmel: let them feed in the rich fields of Bashan and Gilead, as in former times.

Micah 7:15

According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.

Thy prayer is heard, saith the Lord: I will do thus for thee, O my people; and, as I did in the days of thy coming