Jeremiah 12

Revised Standard Version

12 Righteous art thou, O Lord,
when I complain to thee;
    yet I would plead my case before thee.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
    Why do all who are treacherous thrive?
² Thou plantest them, and they take root;
    they grow and bring forth fruit;
thou art near in their mouth
    and far from their heart.
³ But thou, O Lord, knowest me;
    thou seest me, and triest my mind toward thee.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
    and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
⁴ How long will the land mourn,
    and the grass of every field wither?
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it
    the beasts and the birds are swept away,
    because men said, “He will not see our latter end.”

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 fall down,
    how will you do in the jungle of the Jordan?
⁶ For even your brothers and the house of your father,
    even they have dealt treacherously with you;
    they are in full cry after you;
believe them not,
    though they speak fair words to you.”