Jeremiah’s Question

12 Righteous (A)are You, O Lord, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
(C)You are near in their mouth
But far from their [a]mind.

But You, O Lord, (D)know me;
You have seen me,
And You have (E)tested my heart toward You.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
And prepare them for (F)the day of slaughter.
How long will (G)the land mourn,
And the herbs of every field wither?
(H)The beasts and birds are consumed,
(I)For the wickedness of those who dwell there,
Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:2 Most secret parts, lit. kidneys

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.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:2 Literally “kidneys”
  2. Jeremiah 12:4 Literally “Until when”
  3. Jeremiah 12:4 Hebrew “bird”