Jer.12.1
Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
Jer.12.1
You are right, O GOD, and you set things right. I can't argue with that. But I do have some questions: Why do bad people have it so good? Why do con artists make it big?
Jer.12.1
You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
Jer.12.1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
Jer.12.1
LORD, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. Now let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?
Jer.12.2
Thou 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 reins.
Jer.12.2
You planted them and they put down roots. They flourished and produced fruit. They talk as if they're old friends with you, but they couldn't care less about you.
Jer.12.2
You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.
Jer.12.2
You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.
Jer.12.2
You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but in their hearts they give you no credit at all.
Jer.12.3
But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Jer.12.3
Meanwhile, you know me inside and out. You don't let me get by with a thing! Make them pay for the way they live, pay with their lives, like sheep marked for slaughter.
Jer.12.3
Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!
Jer.12.3
But You, O LORD, know me; You have seen me, And You have tested my heart toward You. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, And prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Jer.12.3
But as for me, LORD, you know my heart. You see me and test my thoughts. Drag these people away like helpless sheep to be butchered! Set them aside to be slaughtered!
Jer.12.4
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
Jer.12.4
How long do we have to put up with this--the country depressed, the farms in ruin--And all because of wickedness, these wicked lives? Even animals and birds are dying off Because they'll have nothing to do with God and think God has nothing to do with them. [JC]
Jer.12.4
How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us."
Jer.12.4
How long will the land mourn, And the herbs of every field wither? The beasts and birds are consumed, For the wickedness of those who dwell there, Because they said, "He will not see our final end."
Jer.12.4
How long must this land weep? Even the grass in the fields has withered. The wild animals and birds have disappeared because of the evil in the land. Yet the people say, "The LORD won't do anything!"
Jer.12.5
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 trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Jer.12.5
"So, Jeremiah, if you're worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can't keep your wits during times of calm, what's going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?
Jer.12.5
"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?
Jer.12.5
"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 the floodplain of the Jordan?
Jer.12.5
Then the LORD replied to me, "If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?
Jer.12.6
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.
Jer.12.6
Those closest to you, your own brothers and cousins, are working against you. They're out to get you. They'll stop at nothing. Don't trust them, especially when they're smiling. [JC]
Jer.12.6
Your brothers, your own family- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.
Jer.12.6
For even your brothers, the house of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you; Yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, Even though they speak smooth words to you.
Jer.12.6
Even your own brothers, members of your own family, have turned on you. They have plotted, raising a cry against you. Do not trust them, no matter how pleasantly they speak.
Jer.12.7
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.
Jer.12.7
"I will abandon the House of Israel, walk away from my beloved people. I will turn over those I most love to those who are her enemies.
Jer.12.7
"I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies.
Jer.12.7
"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.
Jer.12.7
"I have abandoned my people, my special possession. I have surrendered my dearest ones to their enemies.
Jer.12.8
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
Jer.12.8
She's been, this one I held dear, like a snarling lion in the jungle, Growling and baring her teeth at me--and I can't take it anymore.
Jer.12.8
My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.
Jer.12.8
My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest; It cries out against Me; Therefore I have hated it.
Jer.12.8
My chosen people have roared at me like a lion of the forest, so I have treated them as though I hated them.
Jer.12.9
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.
Jer.12.9
Has this one I hold dear become a preening peacock? But isn't she under attack by vultures? Then invite all the hungry animals at large, invite them in for a free meal!
Jer.12.9
Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.
Jer.12.9
My heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture; The vultures all around are against her. Come, assemble all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!
Jer.12.9
My chosen people have become as disgusting to me as a vulture. And indeed, they are surrounded by vultures. Bring on the wild beasts to pick their corpses clean!
Jer.12.10
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Jer.12.10
Foreign, scavenging shepherds will loot and trample my fields, Turn my beautiful, well-cared-for fields into vacant lots of tin cans and thistles.
Jer.12.10
Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.
Jer.12.10
"Many rulers have destroyed My vineyard, They have trodden My portion underfoot; They have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Jer.12.10
"Many rulers have ravaged my vineyard, trampling down the vines and turning all its beauty into a barren wilderness.
Jer.12.11
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.
Jer.12.11
They leave them littered with junk--a ruined land, a land in lament. The whole countryside is a wasteland, and no one will really care. [JC]
Jer.12.11
It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares.
Jer.12.11
They have made it desolate; Desolate, it mourns to Me; The whole land is made desolate, Because no one takes it to heart.
Jer.12.11
They have made it an empty wasteland; I hear its mournful cry. The whole land is desolate, and no one even cares.
Jer.12.12
The spoilers 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.
Jer.12.12
"The barbarians will invade, swarm over hills and plains. The judgment sword of GOD will take its toll from one end of the land to the other. Nothing living will be safe.
Jer.12.12
Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe.
Jer.12.12
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.
Jer.12.12
Destroying armies plunder the land. The sword of the LORD kills people from one end of the nation to the other. No one will escape!
Jer.12.13
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 revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
Jer.12.13
They will plant wheat and reap weeds. Nothing they do will work out. They will look at their meager crops and wring their hands. All this the result of GOD's fierce anger!" [JC]
Jer.12.13
They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. So bear the shame of your harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger."
Jer.12.13
They have sown wheat but reaped thorns; They have put themselves to pain but do not profit. But be ashamed of your harvest Because of the fierce anger of the LORD."
Jer.12.13
My people have planted wheat but are harvesting thorns. They have worked hard, but it has done them no good. They will harvest a crop of shame, for the fierce anger of the LORD is upon them."
Jer.12.14
Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
Jer.12.14
GOD's Message: "Regarding all the bad neighbors who abused the land I gave to Israel as their inheritance: I'm going to pluck them out of their lands, and then pluck Judah out from among them.
Jer.12.14
This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
Jer.12.14
Thus says the LORD: "Against all My evil neighbors who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit--behold, I will pluck them out of their land and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
Jer.12.14
Now this is what the LORD says: "As for all the evil nations reaching out for the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands just as Judah will be uprooted from hers.
Jer.12.15
And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
Jer.12.15
Once I've pulled the bad neighbors out, I will relent and take them tenderly to my heart and put them back where they belong, put each of them back in their home country, on their family farms.
Jer.12.15
But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country.
Jer.12.15
Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and everyone to his land.
Jer.12.15
But afterward I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own inheritance.
Jer.12.16
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
Jer.12.16
Then if they will get serious about living my way and pray to me as well as they taught my people to pray to that god Baal, everything will go well for them.
Jer.12.16
And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'-even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal-then they will be established among my people.
Jer.12.16
And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, "As the LORD lives,' as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people.
Jer.12.16
And if these nations quickly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, `As surely as the LORD lives' (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people.
Jer.12.17
But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Jer.12.17
But if they won't listen, then I'll pull them out of their land by the roots and cart them off to the dump. Total destruction!" GOD's Decree.
Jer.12.17
But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD.
Jer.12.17
But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the LORD.
Jer.12.17
But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
