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Jeremiah 12:5-13
World English Bible
Jeremiah 12:5-13
World English Bible
5 “If you have run with the footmen,
and they have wearied you,
then how can you contend with horses?
Though in a land of peace you are secure,
yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father,
even they have dealt treacherously with you!
Even they have cried aloud after you!
Don’t believe them,
though they speak beautiful words to you.
7 “I have forsaken my house.
I have cast off my heritage.
I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest.
She has uttered her voice against me.
Therefore I have hated her.
9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey?
Are the birds of prey against her all around?
Go, assemble all the animals of the field.
Bring them to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.
They have trodden my portion under foot.
They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation.
It mourns to me, being desolate.
The whole land is made desolate,
because no one cares.
12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness;
for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land.
No flesh has peace.
13 They have sown wheat,
and have reaped thorns.
They have exhausted themselves,
and profit nothing.
You will be ashamed of your fruits,
because of Yahweh’s fierce anger.”
Jeremiah 12:5-13
New King James Version
Jeremiah 12:5-13
New King James Version
The Lord Answers Jeremiah
5 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in (A)the [a]floodplain of the Jordan?
6 For even (B)your brothers, the house of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you;
Yes, they have called [b]a multitude after you.
(C)Do not believe them,
Even though they speak [c]smooth words to you.
7 “I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;
I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have (D)hated it.
9 My [d]heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
(E)Bring them to devour!
10 “Many (F)rulers[e] have destroyed (G)My vineyard,
They have (H)trodden My portion underfoot;
They have made My [f]pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it (I)desolate;
Desolate, it mourns to Me;
The whole land is made desolate,
Because (J)no one takes it to heart.
12 The plunderers have come
On all the desolate heights in the wilderness,
For the sword of the Lord shall devour
From one end of the land to the other end of the land;
No flesh shall have peace.
13 (K)They have sown wheat but reaped thorns;
They have [g]put themselves to pain but do not profit.
But be ashamed of your harvest
Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 12:5 Or thicket
- Jeremiah 12:6 Or abundantly
- Jeremiah 12:6 Lit. good
- Jeremiah 12:9 inheritance
- Jeremiah 12:10 Lit. shepherds or pastors
- Jeremiah 12:10 desired portion of land
- Jeremiah 12:13 Or strained
Jeremiah 12:5-13
New International Version
Jeremiah 12:5-13
New International Version
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(A) 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.(B)
Do not trust them,
though they speak well of you.(C)
7 “I will forsake(D) my house,
abandon(E) my inheritance;
I will give the one I love(F)
into the hands of her enemies.(G)
8 My inheritance has become to me
like a lion(H) in the forest.
She roars at me;
therefore I hate her.(I)
9 Has not my inheritance become to me
like a speckled bird of prey
that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
bring them to devour.(J)
10 Many shepherds(K) will ruin my vineyard
and trample down my field;
they will turn my pleasant field
into a desolate wasteland.(L)
11 It will be made a wasteland,(M)
parched and desolate before me;(N)
the whole land will be laid waste
because there is no one who cares.
12 Over all the barren heights in the desert
destroyers will swarm,
for the sword(O) of the Lord(P) will devour(Q)
from one end of the land to the other;(R)
no one will be safe.(S)
13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns;
they will wear themselves out but gain nothing.(T)
They will bear the shame of their harvest
because of the Lord’s fierce anger.”(U)
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 12:5 Or you feel secure only
- Jeremiah 12:5 Or the flooding of
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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