1 Jeremiah’s Plea Righteous are You, O Yahweh, when I would pleadmycase with You;Indeed I would speak matters of justice with You:Why has the way of the wicked succeeded?Whyare all those who deal in treachery complacent?
2 You have planted them; they have also taken root;They grow; they have even produced fruit.You are near 12:2Lit in their mouth to their lipsBut far from their 12:2Lit kidneys inmost being.
3 But You, O Yahweh, You know me;You see me;And You test my heart’sattitudetoward You.Drag them off like sheep for the slaughterAnd 12:3Lit sanctify them set them apart for a day of carnage!
4 How long is the land to mournAnd the plants of every field to dry up?Because of the evil of those who inhabit it,Animals and birds have been swept away,Becausemenhave said, “He will not see our latter ending.”Yahweh Answers Jeremiah
5 ¶“If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,Then how can you compete with horses?If you fall down in a land of peace,How will you do in the 12:5Lit pride thicket of the Jordan?
6 “For even your brothers and the household of your father,Even they have dealt treacherously with you,Even they have called aloud after you.Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you.”
7 ¶“I have forsaken My house;I have abandoned My inheritance;I have given the beloved of My soulInto the hand of her enemies.
8 “My inheritance has become to MeLike a lion in the forest;She has given forth its voice against Me;Therefore I have come to hate her.
9 “Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?Are the birds of prey against her on every side?Go, gather all the beasts of the field,Bring them to devour!
10 “Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard;They have trampled down My portion;They have made My desired portionA desolate wilderness.
11 “ 12:11Lit One has made it It has been made a desolation;Desolate, it mourns 12:11Or upon before Me;The whole land has been made desolateBecause no man sets it upon his heart.
12 “On all the 12:12Or caravan trails bare heights in the wildernessDestroyers have come,For a sword of Yahweh is devouringFrom one end of the land even to the 12:12Lit other end of the land other;There is no peace for any flesh.
13 “They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns;They have strained themselves 12:13Lit they do not profit to no profit.But be ashamed of your produceBecause of the burning anger of Yahweh.”
14 Thus says Yahweh concerning all My evil neighbors who beat at the inheritance with which I have caused My people Israel to inherit, “Behold, I am about to uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
15 And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will cause them to return, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.
16 Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.
17 But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uproot and make it perish,” declares Yahweh.