1 O LORD, thou art more righteous than that I should dispute with thee: Nevertheless, let me talk with thee in things reasonable. How happeneth it, that the way of the ungodly is so prosperous? And that it goeth so well with them, which without any shame offend and live in wickedness?
1 (A)Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You;Indeed I would (B)discuss matters of justice with You:Why has the (C)way of the wicked prospered?Why are all those who (D)deal in treachery at ease?
1 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?
1 You will be righteous, Lord,(A)even if I bring a case against You.Yet, I wish to contend with You:(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?(C)Why do all the treacherous live at ease?
1 You are righteous, LORD, even when I bring a complaint to you. But I want to discuss justice with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper, while all who are treacherous are at ease?
2 Thou plantest them, they take root, they grow, and bring forth fruit. They boast much of thee, yet doest thou not punish them.
2 You have (E)planted them, they have also taken root;They grow, they have even produced fruit.You are (F)near (a)to their lipsBut far from their (b)mind.
2 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.
2 You planted them,(D) and they have taken root.They have grown and produced fruit.You are ever on their lips,(a)but far from their conscience.(b)(E)
2 You plant them and they take root, they grow and bear fruit. "You are near to us," they say with their mouths, but the truth is that you're far from their hearts.
3 But thou LORD, to whom I am well known, thou that hast seen, and proved my heart; take them away, like as a flock is carried to the slaughter house, and appoint them for the day of slaughter.
3 But You (G)know me, O Lord;You see me;And You (H)examine my heart’s attitude toward You.Drag them off like sheep for the slaughterAnd (c)set them apart for a (I)day of carnage!
3 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.
3 As for You, Lord, You know me; You see me.(F)You test whether my heart is with You.(G)Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter(H)and set them apart for the day of killing.
3 You know me, LORD. You see me and test my thoughts toward you. Pull the wicked out like sheep for slaughter; set them apart for the day of butchering.
4 How long shall the land mourn, and all the herbs of the field perish, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The cattle and the birds are gone, yet say they, "Tush, God will not destroy us utterly."
4 How long is the (J)land to mournAnd the (K)vegetation of the countryside to wither?For the (L)wickedness of those who dwell in it,(M)Animals and birds have been snatched away,Because men have said, “He will not see our latter (N)ending.”
4 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.
4 How long will the land mourn(I)and the grass of every field wither?Because of the evil of its residents,animals and birds have been swept away,for the people have said,“He cannot see what our end will be.”(c)(J)
4 How long will the land mourn and the vegetation of every field dry up? Because of the wickedness of those who live in it, animals and birds are swept away. For they say, "He does not see our future."
5 "Seeing thou art weary in running with the footmen, how wilt thou then run with the horses? In a peaceable sure land thou mayest be safe, but how wilt thou do in the furious pride of Jordan?
5 “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,Then how can you compete with horses?If you fall down in a land of peace,How will you do in the (d)(O)thicket of the Jordan?
5 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?
5 If you have raced with runnersand they have worn you out,how can you compete with horses?If you stumble(d) in a peaceful land,what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?(K)
5 Indeed, if you run with others on foot, and they tire you out, how can you compete with horses? You are secure in a land at peace, but how will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
6 For thy brethren and thy kindred have altogether despised thee, and cried out upon thee in thine absence. Believe them not, though they speak fair words to thee.
6 “For even your (P)brothers and the household of your father,Even they have dealt treacherously with you,Even they have cried aloud after you.Do not believe them, although they may say (Q)nice things to you.”
6 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.
6 Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they were treacherous to you;(L)even they have cried out loudly after you.(M)Do not have confidence in them,though they speak well of you.
6 Indeed, even your brothers and your father's family conspire against you. Even they cry out after you loudly. Don't believe them, even though they speak friendly words to you.
7 As for me, say I, I have forsaken mine own dwelling place, and left mine heritage. My life also that I love so well, have I given into the hands of mine enemies.
7 “I have (R)forsaken My house,I have abandoned My inheritance;I have given the (S)beloved of My soulInto the hand of her enemies.
7 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.
7 I have abandoned My house;(N)I have deserted My inheritance.I have given the love of My lifeinto the hands of her enemies.
7 I'll forsake my house, I'll abandon my inheritance. I'll give the beloved of my heart into the hand of her enemies.
8 Mine heritage is become unto me, as a Lion in the wood. It cried out upon me, therefore have I forsaken it.
8 “My inheritance has become to MeLike a lion in the forest;She has (e)(T)roared against Me;Therefore I have come to (U)hate her.
8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
8 My inheritance has acted toward Melike a lion in the forest.She has roared against Me.Therefore, I hate her.(O)
8 My inheritance has become like a lion in the forest to me. She roars at me; therefore, I hate her.
9 Mine heritage is unto me, as a speckled bird; a bird of divers colors is upon it. Go hence, and gather all the beasts of the field together, that they may eat it up.
9 “Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?Are the (V)birds of prey against her on every side?Go, gather all the (W)beasts of the field,Bring them to devour!
9 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.
9 Is My inheritance like a hyena(e) to Me?Are birds of prey circling her?Go, gather all the wild animals;(P)bring them to devour her.
9 Is my inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to me? Are the other birds of prey all around her coming against her? Go, gather all the wild animals and bring them to devour it.
10 Divers herdsmen have broken down my vineyard, and trodden upon my portion. Of my pleasant portion, they have made a wilderness and desert.
10 “Many (X)shepherds have ruined My (Y)vineyard,They have (Z)trampled down My field;They have made My (AA)pleasant fieldA desolate wilderness.
10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard;they have trampled My plot of land.(Q)They have turned My desirable plotinto a desolate wasteland.
10 Many shepherds will destroy my vineyard. They'll trample down my portion. They'll turn my pleasant portion into a desolate desert.
11 They have laid it waste: and now that it is waste, it sigheth unto me. Yea, the whole land lieth waste, and no man regardeth it.
11 “(f)It has been made a desolation,Desolate, it (AB)mourns (g)before Me;The (AC)whole land has been made desolate,Because no man (AD)lays it to heart.
11 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.
11 They have made it a desolation.It mourns, desolate, before Me.All the land is desolate,but no one takes it to heart.(R)
11 They'll make it into a desolate place, and, desolate, it will cry out in mourning to me. The whole land will be desolate because no one takes it to heart.
12 The destroyers come over the heath every way, for the sword of the LORD shall consume from the one end of the land to the other, and no flesh shall have rest.
12 “On all the (h)(AE)bare heights in the wildernessDestroyers have come,For a (AF)sword of the Lord is devouringFrom one end of the land even to the (i)other;There is (AG)no peace for (j)anyone.
12 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.
12 Over all the barren heights in the wildernessthe destroyers have come,for the Lord has a sword that devoursfrom one end of the earth to the other.No one has peace.(S)
12 On all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will come. Indeed, a sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other. There will be no peace for any person.
13 They shall sow wheat, and reap thorns. They shall take heritage in possession, but it shall do them no good. And ye shall be confounded of your own winnings, because of the great wrath of the LORD."
13 “They have (AH)sown wheat and have reaped thorns,They have (AI)strained themselves (k)to no profit.But be ashamed of your (l)(AJ)harvestBecause of the (AK)fierce anger of the Lord.”
13 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.
13 They have sown wheat but harvested thorns.(T)They have exhausted themselves but have no profit.(U)Be put to shame by your harvestsbecause of the Lord’s burning anger.(V)
13 They have sown wheat, but they have harvested thorns. They have tired themselves out, but they don't show a profit. Now be disappointed about your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
14 Thus sayeth the LORD upon all mine evil neighbours, that lay hand on mine heritage, which I have given my people of Israel, "Behold, I will pluck them, namely Israel, out of their land; and put out the house of Judah from among them.
14 Thus says the Lord concerning all My (AL)wicked neighbors who (AM)strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel, “Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will (AN)uproot the house of Judah from among them.
14 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.
14 This is what the Lord says: “Concerning all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people, Israel, I am about to uproot them(W) from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from them.
14 This is what the LORD says about all the wicked neighbors who strike out against the land I've given to my people Israel as their inheritance: "I'm about to uproot them from their land, and I'll uproot the house of Judah from among them.
15 And when I have rooted them out, I will be at one with them again, and will have mercy upon them: and bring them again, every man to his own heritage, and into his land.
15 And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will (AO)again have compassion on them; and I will (AP)bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.
15 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.
15 After I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion(X) on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land.
15 After I've uprooted them, I'll again have compassion on them. I'll return each one of them to his inheritance, and each one to his own land.
16 And if they, namely that trouble my people, will learn the ways of them, to swear by my name, 'The LORD liveth' - like as they learned my people to swear by Baal - then shall they be reckoned among my people.
16 Then if they will really (AQ)learn the ways of My people, to (AR)swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught My people to (AS)swear by Baal, they will be (AT)built up in the midst of My people.
16 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.
16 If they will diligently learn the ways of My people(Y)—to swear by My name, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal—they will be built up among My people.
16 If they have learned the ways of my people well, to swear by my name: "As surely as the LORD lives,' just as they once taught my people to swear by Baal, then they'll be built up among my people.
17 But if they will not obey, then will I root out the same folk, and destroy them, sayeth the LORD."
17 But if they will not listen, then I will (AU)uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.
17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
17 However, if they will not obey, then I will uproot and destroy that nation.”(Z)This is the Lord’s declaration.
17 But if they don't listen, then I'll completely uproot that nation and destroy it," declares the LORD.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org