Revised
Standard Version of the Holy Bible
Jeremiah
Chapter 12 (Revised Standard Version)
Jeremiah 12
1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I complain to thee; yet I would
plead my case before thee. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do
all who are treacherous thrive?
2 Thou plantest them, and they take root; they grow and bring forth
fruit; thou art near in their mouth and far from their heart.
3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my mind
toward thee. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them
apart for the day of slaughter.
4 How long will the land mourn, and the grass of every field wither?
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are
swept away, because men said, "He will not see our latter end."
5 "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied
you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you fall
down, how will you do in the jungle of the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have
dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; believe them
not, though they speak fair words to you."
7 "I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my heritage; I
have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies.
8 My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest, she has
lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her.
9 Is my heritage to me like a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of
prey against her round about? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them
to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled down
my portion, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The
whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart.
12 Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come; for
the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land to the other; no
flesh has peace.
13 They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns, they have tired
themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests
because of the fierce anger of the LORD."
14 Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the
heritage which I have given my people Israel to inherit "Behold,
I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of
Judah from among them.
15 And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on
them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his
land.
16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways
of my people, to swear by my name, 'As the LORD lives,' even as they
taught my people to swear by Ba'al, then they shall be built up in the
midst of my people.
17 But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up
and destroy it, says the LORD."
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