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1 Woe is mee, for I am as when they haue gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eate: my soule desired the first ripe fruit.

2 The good man is perished out of the earth, and there is none vpright among men: they all lie in waite for blood: they hunt euery man his brother with a net.

3 ¶ That they may doe euill with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the iudge asketh for a reward: and the great man, he vttereth his mischieuous desire: so they wrap it vp.

4 The best of them is as a brier: the most vpright is sharper then a thorne hedge: the day of thy watchmen, and thy visitation commeth; now shall be their perplexitie.

5 ¶ Trust yee not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keepe the doores of thy mouth from her that lyeth in thy bosome.

6 For the sonne dishonoureth the father: the daughter riseth vp against her mother: the daughter in law against her mother in law; a mans enemies are the men of his owne house.

7 Therefore I will looke vnto you the Lord: I will waite for the God of my saluation: my God will heare me.

8 ¶ Reioyce not against mee, O mine enemie: When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darknes, the Lord shall be a light vnto me.

9 I will beare the indignation of the Lord, because I haue sinned against him, vntill he plead my cause, and execute iudgement for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousnesse.

10 Then she that is mine enemie shall see it, and shame shall couer her which said vnto mee; Where is the Lord thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she bee troden downe, as the myre of the streets.

11 In the day that thy walles are to be built, in that day shall the decree bee farre remoued.

12 In that day also he shal come euen to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortresse euen to the riuer, and from Sea to Sea, and from mountaine to mountaine;

13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruite of their doings.

14 ¶ Feede thy people with thy rod, the flocke of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feede in Bashan and Gilead, as in the dayes of old.

15 According to the dayes of thy comming out of the land of Egypt will I shew vnto him meruailous things.

16 ¶ The nations shall see, and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand vpon their mouth: their eares shall be deafe.

17 They shall licke the dust like a serpent, they shall moue out of their holes like wormes of the earth: they shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall feare because of thee.

18 Who is a God like vnto thee, that pardoneth iniquitie, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? hee retaineth not his anger for euer, because he delighteth in mercy.

19 He wil turne againe, he will haue compassion vpon vs: he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all their sinnes into the depths of the Sea.

20 Thou wilt performe the trueth to Iacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworne vnto our fathers from the dayes of old.

Viewing the original 1611 KJV with archaic English spelling
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Commentary for Micah 7

The general prevalence of wickedness. (1-7) Reliance on God, and triumph over enemies. (8-13) Promises and encouragements for Israel. (14-20)1-7 The prophet bemoans himself that he lived among a people ripening apace for ruin, in which many good persons would suffer. Men had no comfort, no satisfaction in their own families or in their nearest relations. Contempt and violation of domestic duties are a sad symptom of universal corruption. Those are never likely to come to good who are undutiful to their parents. The prophet saw no safety or comfort but in looking to the Lord, and waiting on God his salvation. When under trials, we should look continually to our Divine Redeemer, that we may have strength and grace to trust in him, and to be examples to those around us.

8-13 Those truly penitent for sin, will see great reason to be patient under affliction. When we complain to the Lord of the badness of the times, we ought to complain against ourselves for the badness of our hearts. We must depend upon God to work deliverance for us in due time. We must not only look to him, but look for him. In our greatest distresses, we shall see no reason to despair of salvation, if by faith we look to the Lord as the God of our salvation. Though enemies triumph and insult, they shall be silenced and put to shame. Though Zion's walls may long be in ruins, there will come a day when they shall be repaired. Israel shall come from all the remote parts, not turning back for discouragements. Though our enemies may seem to prevail against us, and to rejoice over us, we should not despond. Though cast down, we are not destroyed; we may join hope in God's mercy, with submission to his correction. No hinderances can prevent the favours the Lord intends for his church.

14-20 When God is about to deliver his people, he stirs up their friends to pray for them. Apply spiritually the prophet's prayer to Christ, to take care of his church, as the great Shepherd of the sheep, and to go before them, while they are here in this world as in a wood, in this world but not of it. God promises in answer to this prayer, he will do that for them which shall be repeating the miracles of former ages. As their sin brought them into bondage, so God's pardoning their sin brought them out. All who find pardoning mercy, cannot but wonder at that mercy; we have reason to stand amazed, if we know what it is. When the Lord takes away the guilt of sin, that it may not condemn us, he will break the power of sin, that it may not have dominion over us. If left to ourselves, our sins will be too hard for us; but God's grace shall be sufficient to subdue them, so that they shall not rule us, and then they shall not ruin us. When God forgives sin, he takes care that it never shall be remembered any more against the sinner. He casts their sins into the sea; not near the shore-side, where they may appear again, but into the depth of the sea, never to rise again. All their sins shall be cast there, for when God forgives sin, he forgives all. He will perfect that which concerns us, and with this good work will do all for us which our case requires, and which he has promised. These engagements relate to Christ, and the success of the gospel to the end of time, the future restoration of Israel, and the final prevailing of true religion in all lands. The Lord will perform his truth and mercy, not one jot or tittle of it shall fall to the ground: faithful is He that has promised, who also will do it. Let us remember that the Lord has given the security of his covenant, for strong consolation to all who flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them in Christ Jesus.

Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.

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