Israel's Moral Corruption

71 Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit pickers , like the grape gatherers . There is not a cluster of grapes to eat , Or a first-ripe fig which I crave . 2 The godly person has perished from the land , And there is no upright person among men . All of them lie in wait for bloodshed ; Each of them hunts the other with a net . 3 Concerning evil , both hands do it well . The prince asks , also the judge , for a bribe , And a great man speaks the desire of his soul ; So they weave it together . 4 The best of them is like a briar , The most upright like a thorn hedge . The day when you post your watchmen , Your punishment will come . Then their confusion will occur . 5 Do not trust in a neighbor ; Do not have confidence in a friend . From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips . 6 For son treats father contemptuously , Daughter rises up against her mother , Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law ; A man's enemies are the men of his own household .

7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord ; I will wait for the God of my salvation . My God will hear me.

The LORD Brings Light and Deliverance

8 Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy . Though I fall I will rise ; Though I dwell in darkness , the Lord is a light for me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until e He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light , And I will see His righteousness . 10 Then my enemy will see , And shame will cover her who said to me, "Where is the Lord your God ?" My eyes will look on her; At that time she will be trampled down Like mire of the streets . 11 It will be a day for building your walls . On that day will your boundary be extended . 12 It will be a day when they will come to you From Assyria and the cities of Egypt , From Egypt even to the Euphrates , Even from sea to sea and mountain to mountain . 13 And the earth will become desolate because of her inhabitants , On account of the fruit of their deeds .

The LORD's Compassion on Israel

14 Shepherd Your people with Your scepter , The flock of Your possession Which dwells by itself in the woodland , In the midst of a fruitful field . Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old . 15 "As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt , I will show you miracles ." 16 Nations will see and be ashamed Of all their might . They will put their hand on their mouth , Their ears will be deaf . 17 They will lick the dust like a serpent , Like reptiles of the earth . They will come trembling out of their fortresses ; To the Lord our God they will come in dread And they will be afraid before You. 18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession ? He does not retain His anger forever , Because He delights in unchanging love . 19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot . Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea . 20 You will give truth to Jacob And unchanging love to Abraham , Which You swore to our forefathers From the days of old .