Jeremiah Chapter 12

Jeremiah’s Complaint

         12^:1You render justice, LORD,

                        so I’ll argue my case to you.

      Why do the wicked prosper,

            and the devious live in ease?

         ²You planted them and they took root;

            they grew and bore fruit.

      You’re near their lips

            but far from their mind.

³ But, LORD, you know me;

      you see me.

You examine my attitude toward you.

      Drag them off like sheep for slaughter;

      set them apart to be butchered.

⁴ How long will the land mourn

      and the pastures wither?

The animals and birds have disappeared

      because the people there are sinners

      that say, “He doesn’t see what’s in store for us.”           

Jer 12:1-4

God’s Reply

⁵ “If racing against men wears you^sg out,

      how can you compete with horses?

If you fall down on cleared ground,

      how will you fair in the jungle by the Jordan?

⁶ Even the members of your own family

         have turned against you and yelled at you;

      don’t trust them even if they say nice things to you.       

Jer 12:5-6

⁷ “I’ve abandoned my Temple,

      forsaken my permanent possession,

      and delivered my loved ones to their enemies.

⁸ My permanent possession has roared at me

      like a lion in the woods,

      and I’ve detested them.

⁹ Is my inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to me?

      Are birds of prey swooping at it from every direction?

Round up the wild animals;

      bring them to gorge!                                                        

Jer 12:7-9

¹⁰ Many shepherds have ruined my vineyard;

      they’ve tramped down my field

      and made it barren.

¹¹ They’ve made it desolate;

      it mourns to me.

The whole country has become a wasteland

      because nobody’s taking care of it.

¹² Destroying armies have come

         on all the barren hills.

The sword of the LORD is devouring

      from one end of the land to another;

      there’s no peace for anybody.

¹³ They’ve sown wheat and reaped thorns;

      they’ve worn themselves out for nothing.

Be ashamed of your harvest

                              because of the LORD’s fierce anger.”                                   

Jer 12:10-13

A Message for Israel’s Neighbors

¹⁴ This is what the LORD says about neighboring nations that strike at my people’s inheritance:

“I’m about to uproot them from their lands along with Judah. ¹⁵ But afterward I’ll relent and bring these nations back to their territories. ¹⁶ Then, if they’ll learn to swear by me, ‘As sure as the Lord lives,’ like they taught my people to swear by Baal, I’ll let them live among my people. ¹⁷ But any nation that won’t listen, I’ll uproot and destroy.”       Jer 12:14-17