1 
 Misery  is  mine!Indeed,  I  am  like  one  who  gathers  the  summer  fruits,  as  gleanings  of  the  vineyard:There  is  no  cluster  of  grapes  to  eat.My  soul  desires  to  eat  the  early  fig.  +
2 
 The  godly  man  has  perished  out  of  the  earth,and  there  is  no  one  upright  among  men.They  all  lie  in  wait  for  blood;every  man  hunts  his 
brother with  a  net.  
+3 
 Their  hands  are  on  that  which  is  evil  to  do  it  diligently.The  ruler  and 
judge ask  for  a  bribe;and  the  powerful  man  dictates  the  evil  desire  of  his  soul.Thus  they  conspire  together.  
+4 
 The  best  of  them  is  like  a  brier.The  most  upright  is  worse  than  a 
thorn hedge.The  day  of  your  watchmen,even  your  visitation,  has  come;now  is  the  time  of  their  confusion.  
+5 
 Don't  trust  in  a  neighbor.Don't  put  confidence  in  a  friend.With  the 
woman lying  in  your  embrace,be  careful  of  the  words  of  your  mouth!  
+6 
 For  the  son  dishonors  the  father,the 
daughter rises  up  against  her  mother,the  daughter-in-law  against  her  mother-in-law;a  man's  enemies  are  the  men  of  his  own  house.  
+7 
 But  as  for  me,  I  will  look  to  The  LORD.I  will  wait  for  the  God  of  my  salvation.My  God  will  hear  me.  +
8 
 Don't  rejoice  against  me,  my  enemy.When  I  fall,  I  will  arise.When  I  sit  in  darkness,  the  LORD  will  be  a 
light to  me.  
+9 
 I  will  bear  the  indignation  of  The  LORD,because  I  have  sinned  against  him,until  he  pleads  my  case,  and  executes  judgment  for  me.He  will  bring  me  out  to  the  light.I  will  see  his  righteousness.  +
10 
 Then  my  enemy  will  see  it,and  shame  will  cover  her  who  said  to  me,where  is  the  LORD  your  God?Then  my  enemy  will  see  me  and  will  cover  her  shame.Now  she  will  be  trodden  down  like  the  mire  of  the  streets.  +
11 
 A  day  to  build  your  walls-In  that  day,  he  will  extend  your  boundary.  +
12 
 In  that  day  they  will  come  to  you  from 
Assyria and  the  cities  of  Egypt,and  from 
Egypt even  to  the  River,and  from  sea  to  sea,and  mountain  to  mountain.  
+13 
 Yet  the  land  will  be  desolate  because  of  those  who 
dwell therein,for  the 
fruit of  their  doings.  
+14 
Shepherd your  people  with  your  staff,the  flock  of  your  heritage,who  dwell  by  themselves  in  a  forest,in  the  middle  of  fertile  pasture  land,  let  them  feed;in 
Bashan and  Gilead,  as  in  the  days  of  old.  
+ 15 
 "As  in  the  days  of  your  coming  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,I  will  show  them  marvelous  things."  +
16 
 The  nations  will  see  and  be  ashamed  of  all  their  might.They  will  lay  their  hand  on  their  mouth.Their  ears  will  be  deaf.  +
17 
 They  will  lick  the  dust  like  a  serpent.Like  crawling  things  of  the 
earth they  shall  come  trembling  out  of  their  dens.They  will  come  with  fear  to  the  LORD  our  God,and  will  be  afraid  because  of  you.  
+18 
 Who  is  a  God  like  you,  who  pardons  iniquity,and  passes  over  the  disobedience  of  the  remnant  of  his  heritage?He  doesn't  retain  his 
anger forever,because  he  delights  in  loving  kindness.  
+19 
 He  will  again  have  compassion  on  us.He  will  tread  our  iniquities  under  foot;and  you  will  cast  all  their  sins  into  the  depths  of  the  sea.  +
20 
 You  will  give 
truth to  Jacob,and 
mercy to  Abraham,as  you  have  sworn  to  our  fathers  from  the  days  of  old.  
 
            
Mic 7:1-20. THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE CORRUPTION; THE CHOSEN REMNANT, DRIVEN FROM EVERY HUMAN CONFIDENCE, TURNS TO GOD; TRIUMPHS BY FAITH OVER HER ENEMIES; IS COMFORTED BY GOD'S PROMISES IN ANSWER TO PRAYER, AND BY THE CONFUSION OF HER ENEMIES, AND SO BREAKS FORTH INTO PRAISES OF GOD'S CHARACTER.
1. I am as when, &c.--It is the same with me as with one seeking fruits after the harvest, grapes after the vintage. "There is not a cluster" to be found: no "first-ripe fruit" (or "early fig"; see on Isa 28:4) which "my soul desireth" [MAURER]. So I look in vain for any good men left (Mic 7:2).