The Prosperity of the Wicked
1 You are ever righteous, Lord,
when I plead a case before you.
I would like to reason a case with you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are they who deal very treacherously all at ease?
2 You have planted them.
Yes, they have taken root.
They grow. Yes, they produce fruit.
You are always on their lips,
but far from their heart.
3 But you, Lord, know me.
You see me and test my heart toward you.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter
and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4 How long will the land mourn,
and the herbs of the whole country wither?
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell there,
the animals and birds are consumed,
because they said,
“He doesn’t see what our end will be.”
God’s Answer to Jeremiah
5 “If you have raced with men on foot,
and they have worn you out,
then how can you race with horses?
If you stumble in a land of peace where you are secure,
then how will you manage in the pride of the Jordan?
6 For your brothers and your father’s house,
they have betrayed you!
They have cried aloud about you!
If they speak flattering words to you,
do not believe them.
7 I have forsaken my house.
I have cast off my heritage.
I have given the dearly beloved of my soul
into the hands of her enemies.
8 My chosen one has become to me
like a lion in the forest.
She has raised her voice against me.
Because of this, I have grown to hate her.
9 Is my chosen like a speckled bird of prey to me?
Are birds of prey surrounding her?
Go, assemble all the animals of the field.
Bring them to devour her.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.
They have trodden my portion under foot.
They have turned my lovely portion
into a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it desolate.
It mourns before me, desolate.
The whole land has been laid waste,
and no one cares.
12 Destroyers have come
on all the barren heights of the wilderness,
for the sword of the Lord devours
from one end of the land
to the other end of the land.
No one has peace.
13 They have sown wheat
and have reaped thorns.
They have exhausted themselves
and profit nothing.
You will be ashamed of your fruits,
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
A Message for Israel’s Neighbors
14 The Lord says, “Concerning all my evil neighbors, who dare to touch the inheritance which I have given to my people Israel: I will uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15 It will happen that after I have uprooted them up, I will return and have compassion on them. I will bring them back, every man to his heritage and every man to his land.
16 It will happen, if they will diligently learn 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 will be built up in the midst of my people. 17 But if they will not hear, then I will uproot that nation and destroy it,” says the Lord.