7How 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.H480H625H7019H5955H1210H811H398H5315H183H10632The 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.H2623H6H776H3477H120H693H1818H6679H376H251H27643Both 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.H7451H3709H3190H8269H7592H8199H7966H1419H1696H1942H5315H56864Even 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.H2896H2312H3477H4534H3117H6822H6486H935H39985Don’t trust anyone—not your best friend or even your wife!H539H7453H982H441H8104H6607H6310H7901H24366For 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!H1121H5034H1H1323H6965H517H3618H2545H376H341H582H10047As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.H6822H3068H3176H430H3468H430H80858Do 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.H8055H341H5307H6965H3427H2822H3068H2169I 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.H5375H2197H3068H2398H7378H7379H6213H4941H3318H216H7200H666610Then 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.H341H7200H955H3680H559H3068H430H5869H7200H4823H2916H235111In that day, Israel, your cities will be rebuilt, and your borders will be extended.H3117H1447H1129H3117H2706H736812People 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, and from distant seas and mountains.H3117H935H804H4693H5892H4693H5104H3220H3220H2022H202213But the land will become empty and desolate because of the wickedness of those who live there.H776H8077H3427H6529H4611
The Lord’s Compassion on Israel
14O 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, let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago.H7462H5971H7626H6629H5159H7931H910H3293H8432H3760H7462H1316H1568H3117H576915“Yes,” says the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”H3117H3318H776H4714H7200H638116All 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.H1471H7200H954H1369H7760H3027H6310H241H279017Like 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.H3897H6083H5175H7264H4526H2119H776H6342H3068H430H337218Where 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.H410H5375H5771H5674H6588H7611H5159H2388H639H5703H2654H261719Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!H7725H7355H3533H5771H7993H2403H4688H322020You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.H5414H571H3290H2617H85H7650H1H3117H6924
Unknown
, and from distant seas and mountains.H3117
