1. What misery is mine!I am like one who gathers summer fruitat the gleaning of the vineyard;there is no cluster of grapes to eat,none of the early figs that I crave.
2. The faithful have been swept from the land;not one upright person remains.Everyone lies in wait to shed blood;they hunt each other with nets.
3. Both hands are skilled in doing evil;the ruler demands gifts,the judge accepts bribes,the powerful dictate what they desire –they all conspire together.
4. The best of them is like a brier,the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.The day God visits you has come,the day your watchmen sound the alarm.Now is the time of your confusion.
5. Do not trust a neighbour;put no confidence in a friend.Even with the woman who lies in your embraceguard the words of your lips.
6. For a son dishonours his father,a daughter rises up against her mother,a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law –a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
7. But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,I wait for God my Saviour;my God will hear me.
8. Do not gloat over me, my enemy!Though I have fallen, I will rise.Though I sit in darkness,the Lord will be my light.
9. Because I have sinned against him,I will bear the Lord’s wrath,until he pleads my caseand upholds my cause.He will bring me out into the light;I will see his righteousness.
10. Then my enemy will see itand will be covered with shame,she who said to me,‘Where is the Lord your God?’My eyes will see her downfall;even now she will be trampled underfootlike mire in the streets.
11. The day for building your walls will come,the day for extending your boundaries.
12. In that day people will come to youfrom Assyria and the cities of Egypt,even from Egypt to the Euphratesand from sea to seaand from mountain to mountain.