Jeremiah 12 — ENGLXXUP

12 Verse 1 Righteous art thou, O Lord, that I may make my defense to thee, yea, I will speak to thee of judgments. Why is it that the way of ungodly men prospers? that all that deal very treacherously are flourishing? ^{Verse 2} Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root; they have begotten children, and become fruitful; thou art near to their mouth, and far from their reins. ^{Verse 3} But thou, Lord, knowest me; thou hast proved my heart before thee; purify them for the day of their slaughter. ^{Verse 4} How long shall the land mourn, and the grass of the field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell in it? the beasts and birds are utterly destroyed; because the people said, God shall not see our ways. ^{Verse 5} Thy feet run, and they cause thee to faint; how wilt thou prepare to ride upon horses? and thou hast been confident in the land of thy peace? how wilt thou do in the roaring of Jordan? ^{Verse 6} For even thy brethren and the house of thy father, even these have dealt treacherously with thee; and they have cried out, they are gathered together in pursuit of thee; trust not thou in them, though they shall speak fair words to thee. ^{Verse 7} I have forsaken my house, I have left my heritage; I have given my beloved one into the hands of her enemies. ^{Verse 8} My inheritance has become to me as a lion in a forest; she has uttered her voice against me; therefore have I hated her. ^{Verse 9} Is not my inheritance to me a hyena’s cave, or a cave round about her? Go ye, gather together all the wild beasts of the field, and let them come to devour her. ^{Verse 10} Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have defiled my portion, they have made my desirable portion a trackless wilderness; ^{Verse 11} it is made a complete ruin: for my sake the whole land has been utterly ruined, because there is none that lays the matter to heart. ^{Verse 12} The ravagers are come to every passage in the wilderness: for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other: no flesh has any peace. ^{Verse 13} Sow wheat, and reap thorns; their portions shall not profit them: be ashamed of your boasting, because of reproach before the Lord. ^{Verse 14} For thus saith the Lord concerning all the evil neighbors that touch mine inheritance, which I have divided to my people Israel; Behold, I will draw them away from their land, and I will cast out Judah from the midst of them. ^{Verse 15} And it shall come to pass, after I have cast them out, that I will return, and have mercy upon them, and will cause them to dwell every one in his inheritance, and every one in his land. ^{Verse 16} And it shall be, if they will indeed learn the way of my people, to swear by my name, saying, The Lord lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall that nation be built in the midst of my people. ^{Verse 17} But if they will not return, then will I cut off that nation with utter ruin and destruction.