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12 You are righteous, Yahweh,
    when I contend with you;
yet I would like to reason the cause with you.
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
    Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?
You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root.
    They grow. Yes, they produce fruit.
You are near in their mouth,
    and far from their heart.
But you, Yahweh, know me.
    You see me, and test my heart toward you.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
    and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
How long will the land mourn,
    and the herbs of the whole country wither?
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein,
    the animals and birds are consumed;
because they said,
    “He won’t see our latter end.”

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Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You will be righteous, Lord,(A)
even if I bring a case against you.
Yet, I wish to contend with you:(B)
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?(C)
Why do all the treacherous live at ease?
You planted them,(D) and they have taken root.
They have grown and produced fruit.
You are ever on their lips,[a]
but far from their conscience.[b](E)
As for you, Lord, you know me; you see me.(F)
You test whether my heart is with you.(G)
Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter(H)
and set them apart for the day of killing.
How long will the land mourn(I)
and the grass of every field wither?
Because of the evil of its residents,
animals and birds have been swept away,(J)
for the people have said,
“He cannot see what our end will be.”[c](K)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:2 Lit are near in their mouth
  2. 12:2 Lit kidneys
  3. 12:4 LXX reads see our ways