Israel’s Great Misery (Matthew 10:34–39; Luke 12:49–53)
2 UEB Faithful people have disappeared from the land; there is no upright person in all mankind. They all lie in wait to shed blood; each one hunts his own brother with a net. BSB BSB: The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
3 UEB Their hands are very good at doing harm: the ruler asks for money, the judge is ready for bribes, and the powerful man is saying to others what he wants to obtain. Thus they plot together. BSB BSB: Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
4 UEB The best of them is like a brier, the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge. It is the day foretold by your watchmen, the day of your punishment. Now is the time of their confusion. BSB BSB: The best of them is like a brier; the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns. The day for your watchmen has come, the day of your visitation. Now is the time of their confusion.
5 UEB Do not trust any neighbor; put no confidence in any friend. Be careful about what you say even to the woman who lies in your arms. BSB BSB: Do not rely on a friend; do not trust in a companion. Seal the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
Israel’s Confession and Comfort 7 UEB But as for me, I will look to Yahweh. I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. BSB BSB: But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
8 UEB Do not rejoice over me, my enemy. After I fall, I will rise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light for me. BSB BSB: Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
9 UEB Because I sinned against Yahweh, I will bear his rage until he pleads my cause, and executes judgment for me. He will bring me to the light, and I will see him rescue me in his justice. BSB BSB: Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness.
10 UEB Then my enemy will see it, and shame will cover the one who said to me, "Where is Yahweh your God?" My eyes will look at her; she will be trampled down like the mud in the streets. BSB BSB: Then my enemy will see and will be covered with shame—she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her; at that time she will be trampled like mud in the streets.
11 UEB A day to build your walls will come; on that day the boundaries will be extended very far. BSB BSB: The day for rebuilding your walls will come—the day for extending your boundary.
12 UEB On that day your people will come to you, from Assyria and the cities in Egypt, from Egypt to the River, from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. BSB BSB: On that day they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates, from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.
13 UEB But the land will be desolate because of the people who are living there, because of the fruit of their actions. BSB BSB: Then the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the fruit of their deeds.
God’s Compassion on Israel 14 UEB Shepherd your people with your rod, the flock of your inheritance. They live alone in a thicket, in the midst of a pastureland. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in the old days. BSB BSB: Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. They live alone in a woodland, surrounded by pastures. Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
15 UEB As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders. BSB BSB: As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show My wonders.
16 UEB The nations will see and be ashamed of all their power. They will put their hands on their mouths; their ears will be deaf. BSB BSB: Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their might. They will put their hands over their mouths, and their ears will become deaf.
17 UEB They will lick the dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the earth. They will come out of their dens with fear; they will come with fear to you, Yahweh our God, and they will be afraid because of you. BSB BSB: They will lick the dust like a snake, like reptiles slithering on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds in the presence of the LORD our God; they will tremble in fear of You.
18 UEB Who is a God like you— who takes away sin, who passes over the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? He does not keep his anger forever, because he delights in his covenant faithfulness. BSB BSB: Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
19 UEB You will again have compassion on us; you will trample our iniquities under your feet. You will throw all our sins into the depths of the sea. BSB BSB: He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.
20 UEB You will give truth to Jacob and covenant faithfulness to Abraham, as you swore to our ancestors in ancient days. BSB BSB: You will show faithfulness to Jacob and loving devotion to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from the days of old.