Dual Panel1WOE IS me! For I am as when the summer fruits have been gathered, as when the vintage grapes have been gleaned and there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig for which my appetite craves.
2The godly man has perished from the earth, and there is none upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; each hunts his brother with a net.
3Both their hands are put forth {and} are upon what is evil to do it diligently; the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire. Thus they twist between them [the course of justice].
4The best of them is like a brier; the most upright {or} the straightest is like a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen, even of [God's] judgment {and} your punishment, has come; now shall be their perplexity {and} confusion.
5Trust not in a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Keep the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.
6For 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 (members) of his own house.
7But as for me, I will look to the Lord {and} confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope {and} expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
8Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me.
9I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteous deliverance.
10Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover her who said to me, Where is the Lord your God? My eyes will see my desire upon her; now she will be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
11In the day that your walls are to be built [a day for building], in that day shall the boundary [of Israel] be far extended {and} the decree [against her] be far removed.
12In that day they will come to you from Assyria and from the cities of Matzor [Egypt] and from Egypt even to the river [Euphrates], from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.
13Yet shall the earth be desolate because of those who dwell in it, for the fruit of their doings.
14Rule {and} feed Your people with Your rod {and} scepter, the flock of Your inheritance who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of Carmel [a garden land]; they shall feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15As in the days of your coming forth from the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things.
16The nations shall see [God's deliverance] and be ashamed of all their might [which cannot be compared to His]. They shall lay their hands upon their mouths in consternation; their ears shall be deaf.
17They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their strongholds {and} close places. They shall turn {and} come with fear {and} dread to the Lord our God and shall be afraid {and} stand in awe because of You [O Lord].
18Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy {and} loving-kindness.
19He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue {and} tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all {our} sins into the depths of the sea.
20You will show Your faithfulness {and} perform the sure promise to Jacob and loving-kindness {and} mercy to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.