The Lord Answers Jeremiah

“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in (A)the [a]floodplain of the Jordan?
For even (B)your brothers, the house of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you;
Yes, they have called [b]a multitude after you.
(C)Do not believe them,
Even though they speak [c]smooth words to you.

“I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;
I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;
It cries out against Me;
Therefore I have (D)hated it.
My [d]heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;
The vultures all around are against her.
Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,
(E)Bring them to devour!

10 “Many (F)rulers[e] have destroyed (G)My vineyard,
They have (H)trodden My portion underfoot;
They have made My [f]pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it (I)desolate;
Desolate, it mourns to Me;
The whole land is made desolate,
Because (J)no one takes it to heart.
12 The plunderers have come
On all the desolate heights in the wilderness,
For the sword of the Lord shall devour
From one end of the land to the other end of the land;
No flesh shall have peace.
13 (K)They have sown wheat but reaped thorns;
They have [g]put themselves to pain but do not profit.
But be ashamed of your harvest
Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 12:5 Or thicket
  2. Jeremiah 12:6 Or abundantly
  3. Jeremiah 12:6 Lit. good
  4. Jeremiah 12:9 inheritance
  5. Jeremiah 12:10 Lit. shepherds or pastors
  6. Jeremiah 12:10 desired portion of land
  7. Jeremiah 12:13 Or strained

“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 trusted, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?

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.

“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.

Mine heritage is unto Me as a lion in the forest: it crieth out against Me; therefore have I hated it.

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 despoilers 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 produce because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

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