en_tn_condensed/mic/07/04.md

The best of them is like a brier, the most upright is worse than a thorn hedge

Briers and thorns are good for nothing and harm those who touch them. The Israelite rulers and judges did nothing good and harmed people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)

the most upright

"those of them who try hardest to do what is good"

It is the day foretold by your watchmen, the day of your punishment

Micah speaks to the people of Israel, so both instances of "your" are plural. The word "watchmen" is a metaphor for prophets. Alternate translation: "Their prophets have told them that Yahweh would punish them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)

Now is the time of their confusion

The abstract noun "confusion" can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: "Now is when they do not understand what is happening" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)