12
1 You
are righteous,
LORD,
when I contend
with you;
yet I would
like to plead
a case with
you.
Why does the
way of the
wicked prosper?
Why are they
all at ease
who deal very treacherously?
2 You
have planted them.
Yes, they have
taken root.
They grow. Yes,
they produce fruit.
You are near
in their mouth,
and 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
therein,
the animals and
birds are consumed;
because they said,
“He won’t see
our latter end.”
5 “If
you have run
with the footmen,
and they have
wearied you,
then how can
you contend with
horses?
Though in a
land of peace
you are secure,
yet how will
you do in
the pride of
the Jordan?
6 For
even your brothers,
and the house
of your father,
even they
have dealt treacherously with
you!
Even they have
cried aloud after
you!
Don’t believe them,
though they speak
beautiful words to
you.
7 “I
have forsaken my
house.
I have cast
off my heritage.
I have given
the dearly beloved
of my soul
into the hand
of her enemies.
8 My
heritage has
become to me
as a lion in
the forest.
She has uttered
her voice against
me.
Therefore I have
hated her.
9 Is
my heritage to
me as a
speckled bird of
prey?
Are the birds of
prey against her
all around?
Go, assemble all
the animals of
the field.
Bring them
to devour.
10 Many
shepherds have
destroyed my
vineyard.
They have trodden
my portion
under foot.
They have made
my pleasant
portion a desolate
wilderness.
11 They
have made it
a desolation.
It mourns to me,
being desolate.
The whole land is
made desolate,
because no one
cares.
12 Destroyers
have come on all
the bare heights
in the wilderness;
for the sword
of the LORD devours
from the one
end of the land
even to the
other end of
the land.
No flesh 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
LORD’s fierce
anger.”
14 The
LORD says, “Concerning
all my evil
neighbors, who
touch the
inheritance which
I have caused my
people Israel to
inherit: Behold, I
will pluck them
up from off
their land, and
will pluck up
the house of
Judah from among
them.
15 It
will happen that
after I have
plucked them up,
I will return
and have
compassion on them.
I will bring
them again,
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;’ even
as they taught
my people to
swear by Baal,
then they will
be built up
in the middle
of my people.
17 But
if they will
not hear, then
I will pluck
up that nation,
plucking up and destroying
it,” says the
LORD.