Jeremiah 12
International Standard Version
Jeremiah’s Complaint about Justice
12 You are righteous, Lord,
even when I bring a complaint to you.
But I want to discuss justice with you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper,
while all who are treacherous are at ease?
2 You plant them and they take root,
they grow and bear fruit.
“You are near to us,” they say with their mouths,
but the truth is that you’re far from their hearts.
3 You know me, Lord.
You see me and test my thoughts[a] toward you.
Pull the wicked[b] out like sheep for slaughter;
set them apart for the day of butchering.[c]
4 How long will the land mourn
and the vegetation of every field dry up?
Because of the wickedness of those who live in it,
animals and birds are swept away.
For they say, “He does not see our future.”
God’s Reply to Jeremiah
5 Indeed, if you run with others on foot,
and they tire you out,
how can you compete with horses?
You are secure[d] in a land at peace,
but how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
6 Indeed, even your brothers and your father’s family
conspire against you.
Even they cry out after you loudly.
Don’t believe them, even though they speak friendly words to you.
7 I’ll forsake my house,
I’ll abandon my inheritance.
I’ll give the beloved of my heart
into the hand of her enemies.
8 My inheritance has become like a lion in the forest to me.
She roars at me; therefore, I hate her.
9 Is my inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to me?
Are the other[e] birds of prey all around her coming against her?
Go, gather all the wild animals and
bring them to devour it.
10 Many shepherds will destroy my vineyard.
They’ll trample down my portion.
They’ll turn my pleasant portion
into a desolate desert.
11 They’ll make it into a desolate place,
and, desolate, it will cry out in mourning to me.
The whole land will be desolate
because no one takes it to heart.
12 On all the barren heights in the desert
destroyers will come.
Indeed, a sword of the Lord will devour from
one end of the land to the other.
There will be no peace[f] for any person.[g]
13 They have sown wheat,
but they have harvested thorns.
They have tired themselves out,
but they don’t show a profit.
Now be disappointed about your harvest
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
God’s Word about Judah’s Neighbors
14 This is what the Lord says about all the wicked neighbors who strike out against the land[h] I’ve given to my people Israel as their inheritance:[i] “I’m about to uproot them from their land, and I’ll uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15 After I’ve uprooted them, I’ll again have compassion on them. I’ll return each one of them to his inheritance, and each one to his own land. 16 If they have learned the ways of my people well, to swear by my name: ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ just as they once taught my people to swear by Baal, then they’ll be built up among my people. 17 But if they don’t listen, then I’ll completely uproot that nation and destroy it,” declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 12:3 Or heart
- Jeremiah 12:3 Lit. them
- Jeremiah 12:3 Or killing
- Jeremiah 12:5 Or You trust
- Jeremiah 12:9 The Heb. lacks other
- Jeremiah 12:12 Or safety
- Jeremiah 12:12 Lit. for all flesh
- Jeremiah 12:14 Lit. inheritance
- Jeremiah 12:14 Lit. to inherit
Jeremiah 12
English Standard Version
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?
2 You plant them, and they take root;
they grow and produce fruit;
(D)you are near in their mouth
and far from their heart.
3 (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.
4 (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
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 are so trusting,
what will you do in (L)the thicket of the Jordan?
6 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.”
7 “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.
8 (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.
9 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
- Jeremiah 12:13 Hebrew your
Jeremiah 12
King James Version
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?
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
7 I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
9 Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
10 Many pastors 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 desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
12 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.
13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
14 Thus saith the Lord against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord.
Jeremías 12
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
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)?
2 Tú los plantas, y[a] echan raíces;
Crecen, dan fruto(E).
Cerca estás de sus labios[b],
Pero lejos de su corazón[c](F).
3 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).
4 ¿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
5 ¶«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)?
6 -»Porque además 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).
7 ¶»He dejado Mi casa(R),
He abandonado Mi heredad,
He entregado a la amada(S) de Mi alma
En manos[g] de sus enemigos.
8 -»Mi heredad vino a ser para Mí
Como león en la selva;
Rugió[h] contra Mí(T);
Por tanto, la aborrecí(U).
9 -»¿Es acaso Mi heredad para Mí como ave de rapiña de varios colores?
¿Están las aves de rapiña por todos lados contra ella(V)?
Vayan, reúnan a todas las bestias del campo,
Tráiganlas para que la devoren(W).
10 -»Muchos pastores han arruinado(X) Mi viña(Y),
Han pisoteado(Z) Mi heredad[i];
Han hecho de Mi hermosa heredad[j](AA)
Un desierto desolado.
11 -»Fue hecha una desolación,
Desolada, llora sobre Mí(AB);
Todo el país ha sido desolado(AC),
Porque no hubo nadie que 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).
Avergüéncense, pues, de sus 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): «Los arrancaré de su tierra, y a la casa de Judá la arrancaré de en medio de ellos(AN). 15 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 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), entonces serán restablecidos en medio de Mi pueblo(AT). 17 Pero si no escuchan[m], entonces arrancaré esa nación, sí la arrancaré y la destruiré(AU)», declara el Señor.
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