Study Desk

What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs^(a) that I crave.

The faithful have been swept from the land;^(b) not one^(c) upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait^(d) to shed blood;^(e) they hunt each other^(f) with nets.^(g)

Both hands are skilled in doing evil;^(h) the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes,⁽ⁱ⁾ the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together.

The best of them is like a brier,^(j) the most upright worse than a thorn^(k) hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion.^(l)

Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend.^(m) Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.

For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother,⁽ⁿ⁾ a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies are the members of his own household.^(o)

But as for me, I watch^(p) in hope^(q) for the Lord , I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear^(r) me.

Do not gloat over me,^(s) my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.^(t) Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.^(u)

Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord 's wrath,^(v) until he pleads my case^(w) and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light;^(x) I will see his righteousness.^(y)

Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame,^(z) she who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God?"^(aa) My eyes will see her downfall;^(ab) even now she will be trampled^(ac) underfoot like mire in the streets.

The day for building your walls^(ad) will come, the day for extending your boundaries.

In that day people will come to you from Assyria^(ae) and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates and from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.^(af)

The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds.^(ag)

Shepherd^(ah) your people with your staff,^(ai) the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands.^[a](aj) Let them feed in Bashan^(ak) and Gilead^(al) as in days long ago.^(am)

"As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders.^(an)"

Nations will see and be ashamed,^(ao) deprived of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths^(ap) and their ears will become deaf.

They will lick dust^(aq) like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling^(ar) out of their dens; they will turn in fear^(as) to the Lord our God and will be afraid of you.

Who is a God^(at) like you, who pardons sin^(au) and forgives^(av) the transgression of the remnant^(aw) of his inheritance?^(ax) You do not stay angry^(ay) forever but delight to show mercy.^(az)

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities^(ba) into the depths of the sea.^(bb)

You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham,^(bc) as you pledged on oath to our ancestors^(bd) in days long ago.^(be)