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Jeremiah 11:18-12:4
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 11:18-12:4
English Standard Version
18 The Lord made it known to me and I knew;
then you showed me their deeds.
19 But I was (A)like a gentle lamb
led to the slaughter.
I did not know (B)it was against me
they devised schemes, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
(C)let us cut him off from (D)the land of the living,
that his name be remembered no more.”
20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously,
who (E)tests (F)the heart and the mind,
(G)let me see your vengeance upon them,
for to you have I committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of (H)Anathoth, (I)who seek your life, and say, (J)“Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand”— 22 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: “Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine, 23 and none of them shall be left. For I will bring disaster upon the men of (K)Anathoth, (L)the year of their punishment.”
Jeremiah's Complaint
12 (M)Righteous are you, O Lord,
when I complain to you;
yet I would plead my case before you.
(N)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all (O)who are treacherous thrive?
2 You plant them, and they take root;
they grow and produce fruit;
(P)you are near in their mouth
and far from their heart.
3 (Q)But you, O Lord, know me;
(R)you see me, and test my heart toward you.
(S)Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
and set them apart for (T)the day of slaughter.
4 (U)How long will the land mourn
and the grass of every field wither?
(V)For the evil of those who dwell in it
(W)the beasts and the birds are swept away,
because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”
Jeremiah 11:18-12:4
New International Version
Jeremiah 11:18-12:4
New International Version
Plot Against Jeremiah
18 Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;(A) I did not realize that they had plotted(B) against me, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,(C)
that his name be remembered(D) no more.”
20 But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously(E)
and test the heart(F) and mind,(G)
let me see your vengeance(H) on them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth(I) who are threatening to kill you,(J) saying, “Do not prophesy(K) in the name of the Lord or you will die(L) by our hands”— 22 therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men(M) will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant(N) will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.(O)”
Jeremiah’s Complaint
12 You are always righteous,(P) Lord,
when I bring a case(Q) before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:(R)
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?(S)
Why do all the faithless live at ease?
2 You have planted(T) them, and they have taken root;
they grow and bear fruit.(U)
You are always on their lips
but far from their hearts.(V)
3 Yet you know me, Lord;
you see me and test(W) my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep(X) to be butchered!
Set them apart for the day of slaughter!(Y)
4 How long will the land lie parched(Z)
and the grass in every field be withered?(AA)
Because those who live in it are wicked,
the animals and birds have perished.(AB)
Moreover, the people are saying,
“He will not see what happens to us.”
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.