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Jeremiah Questions the Lord’s Justice

12 Lord, you always give me justice
    when I bring a case before you.
So let me bring you this complaint:
Why are the wicked so prosperous?
    Why are evil people so happy?
You have planted them,
    and they have taken root and prospered.
Your name is on their lips,
    but you are far from their hearts.
But as for me, Lord, you know my heart.
    You see me and test my thoughts.
Drag these people away like sheep to be butchered!
    Set them aside to be slaughtered!

How long must this land mourn?
    Even the grass in the fields has withered.
The wild animals and birds have disappeared
    because of the evil in the land.
For the people have said,
    “The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!”

The Lord’s Reply to Jeremiah

“If racing against mere men makes you tired,
    how will you race against horses?
If you stumble and fall on open ground,
    what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?
Even your brothers, members of your own family,
    have turned against you.
    They plot and raise complaints against you.
Do not trust them,
    no matter how pleasantly they speak.

“I have abandoned my people, my special possession.
    I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies.
My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest,
    so I have treated them with contempt.
My chosen people act like speckled vultures,[a]
    but they themselves are surrounded by vultures.
    Bring on the wild animals to pick their corpses clean!

10 “Many rulers have ravaged my vineyard,
    trampling down the vines
    and turning all its beauty into a barren wilderness.
11 They have made it an empty wasteland;
    I hear its mournful cry.
The whole land is desolate,
    and no one even cares.
12 On all the bare hilltops,
    destroying armies can be seen.
The sword of the Lord devours people
    from one end of the nation to the other.
    No one will escape!
13 My people have planted wheat
    but are harvesting thorns.
They have worn themselves out,
    but it has done them no good.
They will harvest a crop of shame
    because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

A Message for Israel’s Neighbors

14 Now this is what the Lord says: “I will uproot from their land all the evil nations reaching out for the possession I gave my people Israel. And I will uproot Judah from among them. 15 But afterward I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own possession. 16 And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people. 17 But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Footnotes

  1. 12:9 Or speckled hyenas.

Jeremiah's Complaint

12 (A)Righteous are you, O Lord,
    when I complain to you;
    yet I would plead my case before you.
(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
    Why do all (C)who are treacherous thrive?
You plant them, and they take root;
    they grow and produce fruit;
(D)you are near in their mouth
    and far from their heart.
(E)But you, O Lord, know me;
    (F)you see me, and test my heart toward you.
(G)Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
    and set them apart for (H)the day of slaughter.
(I)How long will the land mourn
    and the grass of every field wither?
(J)For the evil of those who dwell in it
    (K)the beasts and the birds are swept away,
    because they said, “He will not see our latter end.”

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

“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 (L)the thicket of the Jordan?
For (M)even your brothers and the house of your father,
    (N)even they have dealt treacherously with you;
    they are in full cry after you;
(O)do not believe them,
    though they speak friendly words to you.”

“I have forsaken my house;
    I have abandoned (P)my heritage;
I have given (Q)the beloved of my soul
    into the hands of her enemies.
(R)My heritage has become to me
    like a lion in the forest;
she has lifted up her voice against me;
    therefore I hate her.
Is (S)my heritage to me like (T)a hyena's lair?
    Are the (U)birds of prey against her all around?
Go, (V)assemble all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard;
    (W)they have trampled down my portion;
they have made my pleasant portion
    a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation;
    desolate, (X)it mourns to me.
The whole land is made desolate,
    (Y)but no man lays it to heart.
12 Upon all the bare heights in the desert
    destroyers have come,
for the sword of the Lord devours
    from one end of the land to the other;
    no flesh has peace.
13 (Z)They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns;
    (AA)they have tired themselves out but profit nothing.
They shall be ashamed of their[a] harvests
    (AB)because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

14 Thus says the Lord concerning all (AC)my evil neighbors (AD)who touch the heritage that (AE)I have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. 15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, (AF)and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. 16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, (AG)to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, (AH)then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. 17 (AI)But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:13 Hebrew your

Queja de Jeremías y respuesta de Dios

12 Justo eres tú, oh Jehová, para que yo dispute contigo; sin embargo, alegaré mi causa ante ti. ¿Por qué es prosperado el camino de los impíos, y lo pasan bien todos los que se portan deslealmente?

Los plantaste, y echaron raíces; crecieron y dieron fruto; cercano estás tú en sus bocas, pero lejos de sus riñones.

Pero tú, oh Jehová, me conoces; me viste, y probaste mi corazón para contigo; arrebátalos como a ovejas para el degolladero, y señálalos para el día de la matanza.

¿Hasta cuándo estará de luto la tierra, y marchita la hierba de todo el campo? Por la maldad de los que en ella moran, han desaparecido los ganados y las aves; porque dijeron: Dios no ve nuestro fin.

Si corriste con los de a pie, y te cansaron, ¿cómo contenderás con los de a caballo? Y si en la tierra de paz no estabas seguro, ¿cómo harás en la espesura del Jordán?

Porque aun tus hermanos y la casa de tu padre, aun ellos se portaron deslealmente contigo, aun ellos dieron gritos en pos de ti. No los creas aun cuando bien te hablen.

He dejado mi casa, desamparé mi heredad, he entregado lo que amaba mi alma en manos de sus enemigos.

Mi heredad fue para mí como león en la selva; contra mí dio su rugido; por tanto, la aborrecí.

¿Es mi heredad para mí como ave de rapiña de muchos colores? ¿Están contra ella aves de rapiña en derredor? Venid, reuníos, vosotras todas las fieras del campo, venid a devorarla.

10 Muchos pastores han destruido mi viña, hollaron mi heredad, convirtieron en desierto y soledad mi heredad agradable.

11 Fue puesta en asolamiento, y lloró sobre mí desolada; fue asolada toda la tierra, porque no hubo hombre que reflexionase.

12 Sobre todas las alturas del desierto vinieron saqueadores; porque la espada de Jehová devora desde un extremo de la tierra hasta el otro; no hay paz para ninguna carne.

13 Sembraron trigo, y segaron espinos; se afanaron, mas no aprovecharon nada; se avergonzarán de sus frutos, a causa de la ardiente ira de Jehová.

14 Así dice Jehová: Contra todos mis malos vecinos, que tocan la heredad que hice poseer a mi pueblo Israel; he aquí que yo los arrancaré de su tierra, y arrancaré de en medio de ellos a la casa de Judá.

15 Y después que los haya arrancado, volveré y tendré compasión de ellos, y los haré volver cada uno a su heredad y cada cual a su tierra.

16 Y si diligentemente aprenden los caminos de mi pueblo, para jurar en mi nombre, diciendo: Vive Jehová, así como enseñaron a mi pueblo a jurar por Baal, ellos serán prosperados en medio de mi pueblo.

17 Mas si no escuchan, arrancaré esa nación, sacándola de raíz y destruyéndola, dice Jehová.

Queja de Jeremías

12 Justo eres tú, oh Señor, cuando a ti presento mi causa(A);
en verdad asuntos de justicia voy a discutir contigo(B).
¿Por qué prospera el camino de los impíos(C)
y viven en paz todos los que obran con perfidia(D)?
Tú los plantas, y[a] echan raíces;
crecen, dan fruto(E).
Cerca estás tú de sus labios[b],
pero lejos de su corazón[c](F).
Pero tú me conoces(G), oh Señor,
tú me ves,
y compruebas la actitud de mi corazón para contigo(H).
Arrástralos como ovejas para el matadero
y sepáralos[d] para el día de la matanza(I).
¿Hasta cuándo estará de luto la tierra(J)
y marchita la vegetación de todo el campo(K)?
Por la maldad de los que moran en ella(L)
han sido destruidos los animales y las aves(M),
porque han dicho: Dios no verá nuestro fin(N).

Respuesta de Dios

Si corriste con los de a pie y te cansaron,
¿cómo, pues, vas a competir con los caballos?
Si caes en tierra de paz,
¿cómo te irá[e] en la espesura[f] del Jordán(O)?
Porque también tus hermanos y la casa de tu padre,
también ellos te han traicionado(P),
también ellos han dado gritos en pos de ti;
no les creas aunque te digan cosas agradables(Q).

He dejado mi casa(R),
he abandonado mi heredad,
he entregado a la amada(S) de mi alma
en manos[g] de sus enemigos.
Mi heredad vino a ser para mí
como león en la selva;
rugió[h] contra mí(T);
por tanto, la aborrecí(U).
¿Es acaso mi heredad para mí como ave de rapiña de varios colores?
¿Están las aves de rapiña por todos lados contra ella(V)?
Id, reunid a todas las bestias del campo,
traedlas para que la devoren(W).
10 Muchos pastores han arruinado(X) mi viña(Y),
han hollado(Z) mi heredad[i];
han hecho de mi hermosa heredad[j](AA)
un desierto desolado.
11 Fue hecha una desolación,
llora sobre mí desolada(AB);
todo el país ha sido desolado(AC),
porque no hubo nadie a quien le importara(AD).
12 Sobre todas las alturas desoladas(AE) del desierto
han venido destructores,
porque la espada del Señor(AF) devora
de un extremo de la tierra al otro[k];
no hay paz(AG) para nadie[l].
13 Han sembrado trigo y han segado espinos(AH),
se han esforzado sin provecho alguno(AI).
Avergonzaos, pues, de vuestras cosechas(AJ)
a causa de la ardiente ira del Señor(AK).

14 Así dice el Señor en cuanto a todos mis malvados vecinos(AL) que atacan la heredad que he dado en posesión a mi pueblo Israel(AM): He aquí los arrancaré de su tierra, y a la casa de Judá la arrancaré de en medio de ellos(AN). 15 Y sucederá que después que los haya arrancado, volveré y les tendré compasión, y los haré regresar(AO) cada uno a su heredad y cada cual a su tierra(AP). 16 Y sucederá que si ellos de verdad aprenden los caminos de mi pueblo(AQ), jurando en mi nombre: «Vive el Señor(AR)», así como ellos enseñaron a mi pueblo a jurar por Baal(AS), serán restablecidos en medio de mi pueblo(AT). 17 Pero si no escuchan, entonces arrancaré esa nación, la arrancaré y la destruiré(AU) —declara el Señor.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremías 12:2 Lit., también
  2. Jeremías 12:2 Lit., en sus bocas
  3. Jeremías 12:2 Lit., sus riñones
  4. Jeremías 12:3 Lit., conságralos
  5. Jeremías 12:5 Lit., harás
  6. Jeremías 12:5 Lit., el orgullo
  7. Jeremías 12:7 Lit., palmas
  8. Jeremías 12:8 Lit., levantó su voz
  9. Jeremías 12:10 O, campo
  10. Jeremías 12:10 O, campo
  11. Jeremías 12:12 Lit., al otro extremo de la tierra
  12. Jeremías 12:12 Lit., toda carne

Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You will be in the right, O Yahweh, when I complain to you.
    Even so, let me speak my claims with you.
Why does the way of the wicked succeed?
    All those who deal treacherously with treachery are at ease.
Not only do you plant them, they take root.
    They grow, but also they produce fruit.
You are near in their mouths,
    but far from their inmost beings.[a]
But you, O Yahweh, you know me,
    you see me, and you test that my heart is with you.
Tear them apart like sheep for the slaughtering,
    and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
How long[b] will the land mourn, and the vegetation of every field dry up,
    because of the wickedness of those who live in it?
The animals and the birds[c] are swept away,
    because they have said, “He does not see our future.”

The Lord’s Reply

“If you run with foot soldiers and they have made you weary,
    then how will you compete with horses?
If you have fallen in a peaceful land,[d]
    then how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?
For even your relatives, and the house of your father,
    even they have dealt treacherously with you,
even they call loudly[e] after you.
    You must not trust in them, though they speak kindly to you.
I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my inheritance.
    I have given the beloved one of my heart[f] into the hand of her enemies.
My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest.
    She has lifted up against me her voice; therefore[g] I hate her.
The lair of the hyena is my inheritance to me,
    the birds of prey[h] are all around her.
Go, gather all of the animals[i] of the field,
    bring them to come and devour.[j]
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard,
    they have trampled down my plot of land.
They have made my pleasant field[k]
    like the desert[l] of desolation.
11 They have made it a desolation.
    Desolate, it mourns to me.
All the land is made desolate,
    but there is no person taking it to heart.
12 Upon all the barren heights in the desert[m] destroyers have come,
    for the sword of Yahweh devours,
from one end of the land to the other end of the land,
    there is no peace for all flesh.
13 They have sown wheat and they have reaped thorns.
    They are exhausted, they do not profit.
And they will be ashamed of your produce,
    because of the burning anger[n] of Yahweh.”

14 Thus says Yahweh concerning all of the evil neighbors who touch the inheritance that I gave as an inheritance to my people Israel: “Look, I am about to drive them out from their land, and the house of Judah I will drive out from among them. 15 And then[o] after my driving them out, I will once again have compassion on them, and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance, and each one to his land. 16 And then,[p] if they diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘as Yahweh lives,’[q] even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will live in the midst of my people. 17 But if they do not listen, then I will completely uproot and destroy that nation.”[r] declares[s] Yahweh.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:2 Literally “kidneys”
  2. Jeremiah 12:4 Literally “Until when”
  3. Jeremiah 12:4 Hebrew “bird”
  4. Jeremiah 12:5 Literally “a land of peace”
  5. Jeremiah 12:6 Literally “full”
  6. Jeremiah 12:7 Literally “soul”
  7. Jeremiah 12:8 Literally “unto thus”
  8. Jeremiah 12:9 Hebrew “bird of prey”
  9. Jeremiah 12:9 Hebrew “animal”
  10. Jeremiah 12:9 Literally “to food”
  11. Jeremiah 12:10 Literally “the plot of land of my desire”
  12. Jeremiah 12:10 Or “wilderness”
  13. Jeremiah 12:12 Or “wilderness”
  14. Jeremiah 12:13 Literally “the blaze of the nose”
  15. Jeremiah 12:15 Literally “And it will happen”
  16. Jeremiah 12:16 Literally “And it will happen”
  17. Jeremiah 12:16 Literally “the life of Yahweh”
  18. Jeremiah 12:17 Literally “I will drive out the nation that driving out and destroying”
  19. Jeremiah 12:17 Literally “declaration of”