1. Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe fruit.
2. The good man has perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.
3. So that they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asks, and the judge asks for a reward; and the great man, he speaks his mischievous desire: so they weave it together.
4. The best of them is like a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of your watchmen and your visitation comes; now shall be their perplexity.
5. Do not trust in a friend, put not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom.
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. Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
8. Rejoice 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.
9. I 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 righteousness.
10. Then she who is my enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her who said to me, Where is the LORD your God? my eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down like the mire of the streets.
11. In the day that your walls are to be built, in that day shall the former decree be far removed.
12. In that day also he shall come even to you 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.
13. Nevertheless the land shall be desolate because of those who dwell in it, as the fruit of their doings.
14. Feed your people with your rod, the flock of your heritage, who dwell alone in the forest, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15. According to the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt will I show him marvelous things.
16. The nations shall see and be astonished at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth; their ears shall be deaf.
17. They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of you.
18. Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy.
19. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and you will throw all their sins down into the depths of the sea.
20. You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
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