The Book of Jeremiah
12: 1Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason
the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are
all they at ease that deal very treacherously? 12:2Thou 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 heart. 12:3But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest
me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
and prepare them for the day of slaughter. 12:4How long shall the land mourn, and
the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of them that dwell
therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not
see our latter end. 12:5If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied
thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and though in a land of peace
thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of the Jordan? 12:6For even thy
brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with
thee; even they have cried aloud after thee: believe them not, though they speak
fair words unto thee. 12:7I 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. 12:8My
heritage is become unto me as a lion in the forest: she hath uttered her voice
against me; therefore I have hated her. 12:9Is my heritage unto me as a speckled bird
of prey? are the birds of prey against her round about? go ye, assemble all the
beasts of the field, bring them to devour. 12:10Many shepherds have destroyed my
vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant
portion a desolate wilderness. 12:11They have made it a desolation; it mourneth unto
me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to
heart. 12:12Destroyers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the
sword of Jehovah devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of
the land: no flesh hath peace. 12:13They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns;
they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and ye shall be ashamed of
your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah. 12:14Thus saith Jehovah against
all mine evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people
Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck
up the house of Judah from among them. 12:15And it shall come to pass, after that I
have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will
bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land. 12:16And it
shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by
my name, As Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal;
then shall they be built up in the midst of my people. 12:17But if they will not hear,
then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith Jehovah.