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?
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, O Lord are [uncompromisingly] righteous and consistently just when I plead my case with You;Yet let me discuss issues of justice with You:Why has the way of the wicked prospered?Why are those who deal in treachery (deceit) at ease and thriving?
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.
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.
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.
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 But You, O Lord, know me [and understand my devotion to You];You see me;And You examine the attitude of my heart toward You.Drag out the faithless like sheep for the slaughter [O Lord]And set them apart for the day of slaughter.
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."
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 must the land mournAnd the grass of the countryside wither?Because of the wickedness and hypocrisy of those who live in it,The beasts and the birds are consumed and are swept away [by the drought],Because men [mocking me] have said, “He will not [live long enough to] see [what happens at] our final end.”
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?
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 [The Lord rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience, saying] “If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out,Then how can you compete with horses?If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure],Then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan?
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.
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 “For even your [tribal] brothers and the household of your father,Even they have dealt treacherously (unfaithfully) with you;Indeed they are [like a pack of hounds] howling after you.Do not believe them, although they may say kind words and promise you good things.”
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.
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 have abandoned My house,I have given up My [precious] inheritance (Judah);I have given the [dearly] beloved of My lifeInto the hands of her enemies.
8 My inheritance has become like a lion in the forest to me. She roars at me; therefore, I hate her.
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 to MeLike a lion in the forest;She has raised her voice and roared against Me;So I have come to [treat her as if I] hate 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.
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 [unlike the others]?Are the birds of prey (enemies) surrounding her on every side?Go, gather all the [wild] beasts of the field;Bring them to devour [her]!
10 Many shepherds will destroy my vineyard. They'll trample down my portion. They'll turn my pleasant portion into a desolate 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 (invaders) have destroyed My vineyard (Judah),They have trampled My field underfoot;They have made My pleasant fieldA desolate wilderness.
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.
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 have made it a wasteland,Desolate, it mourns before Me;The whole land has been made a wasteland,Because no man takes it to heart.
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.
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 “Destroyers have comeOn all the caravan roads in the desert,For the sword of the Lord (Babylon) is devouringFrom one end of the land even to the other;No one has peace or a way of escape.
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.
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 planted wheat but have reaped thorns;They have exhausted themselves but without profit.So be ashamed of your harvestBecause of the fierce and raging anger of the Lord.”
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.
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 Thus says the Lord regarding all My evil neighbors (Gentile nations) who strike at the inheritance which I have granted to My people Israel, “Behold, I will uproot them from their land and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
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.
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 And it shall come about that after I have uprooted them, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them back again, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.
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.
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 And if these [neighboring nations] will diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My Name, saying, ‘As the Lord lives’—even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up among My people.
17 But if they don't listen, then I'll completely uproot that nation and destroy it," declares 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 [any nation] will not listen and obey, I will [completely] uproot and destroy that nation, says the Lord.”
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