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Jeremiah 11:18-12:6
New Catholic Bible
Jeremiah 11:18-12:6
New Catholic Bible
Jeremiah’s Persecution[a]
18 I was aware of this, O Lord,
because you had made it known to me
then you revealed to me their evil deeds.
19 I had been like a trusting lamb
that was being led to the slaughter.
And I was not aware about the schemes
that they were plotting against me, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;
let us cut him off from the land of the living
so that his name will no longer be remembered.”
20 O Lord of hosts, you who judge righteously
and test the heart and the mind,
allow me to behold your vengeance on them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
21 Therefore, in regard to the people of Anathoth who are determined to end my life and who say, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord or we will kill you,” 22 this is what the Lord has to say, “I am about to punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, and their sons and daughters will perish by famine. 23 Not a single one of them will survive. For in the year of reckoning for them, I will bring disaster upon the people of Anathoth.”
Chapter 12
1 You are always in the right, O Lord,
whenever I take a position that conflicts with yours;
nevertheless, let me plead my case before you.
Why does it happen that the wicked prosper
and that treacherous people thrive?
2 When you planted them, they took root,
flourished, and brought forth fruit.
Your name is always on their lips,
but you are far from their hearts.
3 You know me, O Lord, and you see me;
you are aware that my heart is devoted to you.
Drag off the wicked like
sheep for a sacrifice;
set them apart for the day of slaughter.
4 For how long a period must the land be in mourning
and the green grass wither throughout the countryside?
The animals and the birds are perishing
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there
and assert that God is not concerned about them.
God’s Response
5 If you become exhausted in a footrace with men,
how will you compete with horses?
And if you fall headlong in a peaceful land,
how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
6 Even your brothers and your own family
continue to deal treacherously with you
as they pursue you while shouting threats.
Do not trust them
even when they speak gentle words to you.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 11:18 Threatened with death, Jeremiah raises the thorny problem of the just who suffer and the wicked who prosper; this was a scandal to which traditional teaching on retribution had no valid answer. And in fact, it is not possible to rise above the scandal without a very radical act of faith. God himself promises Jeremiah ever harder trials in which he must be bold enough to trust solely in the Lord. Modern readers may perhaps be put off by the vindictive sentiments of the prophet, but these must be seen in the setting of the times. There was still no idea of retribution in a future life or even of a resurrection; therefore, the call for revenge seemed the only way of expressing faith in the justice of God. The image of the lamb led to slaughter (Jer 11:19) will later be applied by Second Isaiah (Isa 53:7) to the suffering Servant and, in the New Testament, to Jesus.
Jeremiah 11:18-12:6
New International Version
Jeremiah 11:18-12:6
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.”
God’s Answer
5 “If you have raced with men on foot
and they have worn you out,
how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble[a] in safe country,
how will you manage in the thickets(AC) by[b] the Jordan?
6 Your relatives, members of your own family—
even they have betrayed you;
they have raised a loud cry against you.(AD)
Do not trust them,
though they speak well of you.(AE)
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 12:5 Or you feel secure only
- Jeremiah 12:5 Or the flooding of
Jeremiah 11:18-12:6
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 11:18-12:6
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.”
The Lord Answers Jeremiah
5 “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you,
how will you compete with horses?
And if in a safe land you are so trusting,
what will you do in (X)the thicket of the Jordan?
6 For (Y)even your brothers and the house of your father,
(Z)even they have dealt treacherously with you;
they are in full cry after you;
(AA)do not believe them,
though they speak friendly words to you.”
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
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.