Micah 7 - Legacy Standard Bible

Micah 7

There Is No Upright Person

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 my soul desires.

The holy one 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.

Concerning evil, both hands do it well.

The prince asks, also the judge, for a payment,

And a great man speaks the craving of his soul;

So they weave it together.

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.

At that time their panic will happen.

Do not believe in a neighbor;

Do not have confidence in a close companion.

From her who lies in your bosom

Guard the openings of your mouth.

For son treats father as a wicked fool;

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.

Yahweh Is a Light for Me

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for Yahweh;

I will wait for the God of my salvation.

My God will hear me.

Do not be glad over me, O my enemy.

Though I fall I will rise;

Though I inhabit the darkness, Yahweh is a light for me.

I will bear the rage of Yahweh

Because I have sinned against Him,

Until He pleads my case and does justice for me.

He will bring me out to the light,

And I will see His righteousness.

Then my enemy will see,

And shame will cover her who said to me,

“Where is Yahweh your God?”

My eyes will look on her;

At that time she will be trampled down

Like mire of the streets.

It will be a day for building your walls.

On that day your boundary will be extended.

It will be a day when they will come to you

From Assyria and the cities of Egypt,

From Egypt even to the River,

Even from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

And the earth will become desolate because of her inhabitants,

On account of the fruit of their deeds.

Shepherd Your people with Your scepter,

The flock of Your inheritance

Which dwells by itself in the forest,

In the midst of a fruitful orchard.

Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead

As in the ancient days.

“As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt,

I will show you wondrous deeds.”

Nations will see and be ashamed

Of all their might.

They will put their hand on their mouth;

Their ears will be deaf.

They will lick the dust like a serpent,

Like crawling things of the earth.

They will come trembling out of their fortresses;

To Yahweh our God they will come in dread,

And they will be afraid before You.

Who is a God like You, who forgives iniquity

And passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance?

He does not hold fast to His anger forever

Because He delights in lovingkindness.

He will again have compassion on us;

He will subdue our iniquities.

And You will cast all their sins

Into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob

And lovingkindness to Abraham,

Which You swore to our fathers

From the days of old.

Acts 11 - 12

Peter’s Report in Jerusalem

Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from heaven, and it came right down to me, 6 and when looking closely at it, I was observing it and saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the sky. 7 And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise up, Peter; slaughter and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing defiled or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider defiled.’ 10 And this happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into heaven. 11 And behold, immediately three men appeared at the house in which we were, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them without taking issue at all. These six brothers also went with me and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter; 14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could prevent God’s way?” 18 And when they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

The Church in Antioch

19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 Now the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch, 23 who, when he arrived and saw the grace of God, rejoiced and began to encourage them all with a purposeful heart to remain true to the Lord; 24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a considerable crowd was brought to the Lord. 25 And he left for Tarsus to search for Saul; 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it happened that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a considerable crowd. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. 27 Now in those days, some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and indicated by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius. 29 And as any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the service of the brothers living in Judea. 30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.

An Angel Frees Peter from Prison

Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to harm them. 2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. 3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. 5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God. 6 Now on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and woke him up, saying, “Rise up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your garment around yourself and follow me.” 9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but was thinking he was seeing a vision. 10 And when they had passed the first and second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now truly I know that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” 12 And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant-girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 And when she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate. But she ran in and reported that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 And they said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door, they saw him and were astounded. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he recounted to them how the Lord had led him out of the prison. And he said, “Report these things to James and the brothers.” Then he left and went to another place. 18 Now when day came, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.

The Death of Herod

20 Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. 21 And on an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel and sitting on the judgment seat, began delivering an address to them. 22 And the assembly kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. 24 But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, fulfilling their ministry, taking along with them John, who was also called Mark.

Psalm 86 - 87

To You, O Lord, I Lift Up My Soul

A Prayer of David.

Incline Your ear, O Yahweh, and answer me;

For I am afflicted and needy.

Keep my soul, for I am a holy one;

O You my God, save Your slave who trusts in You.

Be gracious to me, O Lord,

For to You I call all day long.

Make glad the soul of Your slave,

For to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

For You, Lord, are good, and by nature forgiving,

And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon You.

Give ear, O Yahweh, to my prayer;

And give heed to the voice of my supplications!

In the day of my distress I shall call upon You,

For You will answer me.

There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,

Nor are there any works like Yours.

All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord,

And they shall glorify Your name.

For You are great and do wondrous deeds;

You alone are God.

Teach me Your way, O Yahweh;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.

I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,

And will glorify Your name forever.

For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,

And You have delivered my soul from Sheol below.

O God, arrogant men have risen up against me,

And a band of ruthless men have sought my life,

And they have not set You before them.

But You, O Lord, are a God compassionate and gracious,

Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.

Turn to me, and be gracious to me;

Oh grant Your strength to Your slave,

And save the son of Your maidservant.

Show me a sign for good,

That those who hate me may see it and be ashamed,

Because You, O Yahweh, have helped me and comforted me.

Yahweh Loves the Gates of Zion

Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm. A Song.

His foundation is in the holy mountains.

Yahweh loves the gates of Zion

More than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

Glorious things are spoken of you,

O city of God. Selah.

“I shall mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me;

Behold, Philistia and Tyre with Ethiopia:

‘This one was born there.’”

But of Zion it shall be said, “This one and that one were born in her”;

And the Most High Himself will establish her.

Yahweh will count when He registers the peoples,

“This one was born there.” Selah.

And singers, just like the dancers, will all say,

“All my springs are in you.”