Chapter
7
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.
The godly woman has perished out of the earth, and there is no one upright among women. They all lie in wait for blood; every woman hunts her sister with a net.
Their hands are on that which is evil to do it diligently. The ruler and judge ask for a bribe; and the powerful woman dictates the evil desire of her soul. Thus they conspire together.
The best of them is like a brier. The most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchwomen, even your visitation, has come; now is the time of their confusion.
Don't trust in a neighbor. Don't put confidence in a friend. With the man lying in your embrace, be careful of the words of your mouth!
For the daughter dishonors the mother, the son rises up against his father, the son-in-law against his father-in-law; a woman's enemies are the women of her own house.
But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Don't rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me.
I will bear the indignation of Yahweh, because I have sinned against her, until she pleads my case, and executes judgment for me. She will bring me forth to the light. I will see her righteousness.
Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover him who said to me, where is Yahweh your God? Then my enemy will see me and will cover his shame. Now he will be trodden down like the mire of the streets.
A day to build your walls--In that day, she will extend your boundary.
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.
Yet the land will be desolate because of those who dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your heritage, who dwell by themselves in a forest, in the midst of fertile pasture land, let them feed; in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
"As in the days of your coming forth out of the land of Egypt, I will show them marvelous things."
The nations will see and be ashamed of all their might. They will lay their hand on their mouth. Their ears will be deaf.
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 Yahweh our God, and will be afraid because of you.
Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of her heritage? She doesn't retain her anger forever, because she delights in loving kindness.
She will again have compassion on us. She will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
You will give truth to Jacoba, and mercy to Abrahai, as you have sworn to our mothers from the days of old.