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Jeremiah’s First Complaint

12 Lord, when I bring my case to you,
    you are always right.
But I want to ask you about the justice you give.
    Why are evil people successful?
    Why do dishonest people have such easy lives?
You have put the evil people here
    like plants with strong roots.
    They grow and produce fruit.
With their mouths they speak well of you,
    but their hearts are really far away from you.
But you know my heart, Lord.
    You see me and test my thoughts about you.
Drag the evil people away like sheep to be butchered.
    Set them aside for the day of killing.
How much longer will the land stay dried up
    and the grass in every field be dead?
The animals and birds in the land have died,
    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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