LEB JER Chapter 12

Jeremiah’s Complaint

• Even so, let me speak my claims with you.
• Why does the way of the wicked succeed?
  • All those who deal treacherously with treachery are at ease.
  • 2  They grow, but also they produce fruit.
• You are near in their mouths,
  • but far from their[fn]
  • 3 O Yahweh, you know me, you see me, and you test that my heart is with you.
• Tear them apart like sheep for the slaughtering,
  • and set them apart for the day of slaughter.
  • 4 [fn] will the land mourn, and the vegetation of every field dry up, because of the wickedness of those who live in it?
• The animals and the birds[fn] are swept away,
  • because they have said, “He does not see our future.”

The Lord’s Reply

• 5 then how will you compete with horses?
• If you have fallen in[fn]
  • then how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?
  • 6  even they have dealt treacherously with you,
• even they call[fn] after you.
  • You must not trust in them, though they speak kindly to you.
  • 7  I have given the beloved one of my[fn] into the hand of her enemies.
  • 8  She has lifted up against me her voice;[fn] I hate her.
  • 9 the hyena is my inheritance to me, the birds of prey[fn] are all around her.
• Go, gather all of the animals[fn] of the field,
  • bring them[fn]
  • 10  they have trampled down my plot of land.
• They have made[fn]
  • like the desert[fn] of desolation.
  • 11  Desolate, it mourns to me.
• All the land is made desolate,
  • but there is no person taking it to heart.
  • 12 the barren heights in the desert[fn] destroyers have come, for the sword of Yahweh devours,
• from one end of the land to the other end of the land,
  • there is no peace for all flesh.
  • 13  They are exhausted, they do not profit.
• And they will be ashamed of your produce,
  • because of[fn] of Yahweh.”

14 Thus says Yahweh concerning all of the evil neighbors who touch the inheritance that I gave as an inheritance to my people Israel: “Look, I am about to drive them out from their land, and the house of Judah I will drive out from among them. 15 And then[fn] after my driving them out, I will once again have compassion on them, and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance, and each one to his land. 16 And then,[fn] if they diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘as Yahweh lives,’[fn] even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will live in the midst of my people. 17 But if they do not listen, then I will completely uproot and destroy that nation.”[fn] declares[fn] Yahweh.