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“If you have run with the footmen,
    and they have wearied you,
    then how can you contend with horses?
Though in a land of peace you are secure,
    yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
For even your brothers, and the house of your father,
    even they have dealt treacherously with you!
    Even they have cried aloud after you!
Don’t believe them,
    though they speak beautiful words to you.

“I have forsaken my house.
    I have cast off my heritage.
    I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest.
    She has uttered her voice against me.
    Therefore I have hated her.
Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey?
    Are the birds of prey against her all around?
Go, assemble all the animals of the field.
    Bring them to devour.
10 Many shepherds 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 a desolation.
    It mourns to me, being desolate.
The whole land is made desolate,
    because no one cares.
12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness;
    for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land.
    No flesh has peace.
13 They have sown wheat,
    and have reaped thorns.
They have exhausted themselves,
    and profit nothing.
You will be ashamed of your fruits,
    because of Yahweh’s fierce anger.”

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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