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Jeremiah

Warnings about Jerusalem's destruction due to unfaithfulness, with promises of a new covenant. ... click to read full summary of this book.

Chapter 12

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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?

Dear Lord, you are just. When I talk to you about your decisions, I have a question: why do bad people seem to succeed and be happy while they act sneakily?

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.

You have planted them; yes, they have grown deep roots. They thrive and produce fruit. You are close to them when they talk about you, but far from them when they act without considering you.

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.

But you, Lord, know who I am; you have watched me closely and tested my heart towards you. Treat them like sheep to be killed, and get them ready for the day of destruction.

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.

For how long will the land be sad and the plants in the fields die due to the wickedness of those living there? The animals and birds are gone because they thought, "He won't witness our final days."

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?

If you've run with the runners and got tired, how can you compete with horses? And if in the peaceful land where you believed, they tired you out, then how will you manage in the big river of 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.

Even your family has betrayed you; they've gathered a large group against you. Don't trust what they say, even if their words sound good.

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.

I abandoned my home and inheritance. I gave my cherished loved one to their enemies.

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

My inheritance feels like a roaring lion in the woods, yelling at me. Because of this, I hate 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.

My inheritance is like a spotted bird, other birds don't help her. Call all wild animals from the fields to eat her up.

Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Many priests hurt my special place, they walked all over my part, turning my beautiful area into a barren wasteland.

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.

They destroyed it, and since then it's sad; the entire area is sad because nobody cares deeply about it.

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.

The spoilers have invaded every high place through the wilderness. The LORD's sword will destroy from one end of the land to the other, leaving no living thing at peace.

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.

They planted wheat but will get weeds instead. They worked hard but won't gain anything. They'll feel bad about their profits due to God's intense anger.

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.

This is what God says about all the bad neighbors who interfere with the land He gave to His people Israel: He will remove them from their land and also remove the people of Judah from among them.

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.

Then, after I remove them, I will return and feel sorry for them. I will bring them back to their inheritance and each person to their land.

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.

If they carefully learn to follow my people's ways and promise by my name, "The LORD liveth," just like they taught my people to promise by Baal, then they will be a part of my people.

But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

But if they don't listen, I will completely remove and destroy that country, says the Lord.

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