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Jeremiah’s First Complaint

12 Lord, when I bring ·my case to [charges against] you,
    you are ·always right [righteous].
But I want to ·ask you about the justice you give [put my case to you].
    Why ·are evil people [L is the way/path of the wicked] successful?
    Why do ·dishonest [treasonous; treacherous] people ·have such easy lives [thrive; Job; Ps. 73; Eccl. 7:15–18; 8:10–12]?
You ·have put the evil people here
    like plants with strong roots [L plant them; they take root].
    They grow and produce fruit [17:7–8].
·With their mouths they speak well of you [L You are near in their mouths],
    but ·their hearts are really far away from you [L far from their hearts/thoughts].
But you know ·my heart [L me], Lord.
    You see me and test my ·thoughts [L heart] about you [1:5; Ps. 139].
Drag the evil people away like sheep to be ·butchered [slaughtered].
    ·Set them aside [C Consecrate them] for the day of killing.
How much longer will the land ·stay dried up [L mourn]
    and the grass in every field be ·dead [dry]?
The animals and birds in the land ·have died [L are swept away],
    because the people are evil.
Yes, they are even saying,
    “God does not see what happens to us.”

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Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You are always righteous,(A) Lord,
    when I bring a case(B) before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:(C)
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?(D)
    Why do all the faithless live at ease?
You have planted(E) them, and they have taken root;
    they grow and bear fruit.(F)
You are always on their lips
    but far from their hearts.(G)
Yet you know me, Lord;
    you see me and test(H) my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep(I) to be butchered!
    Set them apart for the day of slaughter!(J)
How long will the land lie parched(K)
    and the grass in every field be withered?(L)
Because those who live in it are wicked,
    the animals and birds have perished.(M)
Moreover, the people are saying,
    “He will not see what happens to us.”

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12 Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

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