Jeremiah 12

1Thou indeed, O Lord, art just, if I plead with thee, but yet I will speak what is just to thee: Why doth the way of the wicked prosper: why is it well with all them that transgress, and do wickedly?

2Thou hast planted them, and they have taken root: they prosper and bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

3And thou, O Lord, hast known me, thou hast seen me, and proved my heart with thee: gather them together as sheep for a sacrifice, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

4How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? The beasts and the birds are consumed: because they have said: He shall not see our last end.

5If thou hast wearied with running with footmen, how canst thou contend with horses? and if thou hast been secure in a land of peace, what wilt thou do in the swelling of the Jordan?

6For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have fought against thee, and have cried after thee with full voice: believe them not when they speak good things to thee.

7I have forsaken my house, I have left my inheritance: I have given my dear soul into the land of her enemies.

8My inheritance is become to me as a lion in the wood: is hath cried out against me, therefore have I hated it.

9Is my inheritance to me as a speckled bird? Is it as a bird died throughout? come ye, assemble yourselves, all the beasts of the earth, make haste to devour.

10Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot: they have changed my delightful portion into a desolate wilderness.

11They have laid it waste, and it hath mourned for me. With desolation is all the land made desolate; because there is none that considereth in the heart.

12The spoilers are come upon all the ways of the wilderness, for the sword of the Lord shall devour from one end of the land to the other end thereof: there is no peace for all flesh.

13They have sown wheat, and reaped thorns: they have received an inheritance, and it shall not profit them: you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce wrath of the Lord.

14Thus saith the Lord against all my wicked neighbors, that touch the inheritance that I have shared out to my people Israel: Behold I will pluck them out of their land, and I will pluck the house of Juda out of the midst of them.

15And when I shall have plucked them out, I will return, and have mercy on them: and I will bring them back, every man to his inheritance, and every man to his land.

16And it shall come to pass, if they will be taught, and will learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name: The Lord liveth, as they have taught my people to swear by baal: that they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

17But if they will not hear, I will utterly pluck out and destroy that nation, saith the Lord.

1[Justus quidem tu es, Domine, si disputem tecum: verumtamen justa loquar ad te: Quare via impiorum prosperatur; bene est omnibus qui prævaricantur et inique agunt?

2Plantasti eos, et radicem miserunt: proficiunt, et faciunt fructum: prope es tu ori eorum, et longe a renibus eorum.

3Et tu, Domine, nosti me, vidisti me, et probasti cor meum tecum. Congrega eos quasi gregem ad victimam, et sanctifica eos in die occisionis.

4Usquequo lugebit terra, et herba omnis regionis siccabitur, propter malitiam habitantium in ea? Consumptum est animal, et volucre, quoniam dixerunt: Non videbit novissima nostra.

5Si cum peditibus currens laborasti, quomodo contendere poteris cum equis? cum autem in terra pacis securus fueris, quid facies in superbia Jordanis?

6Nam et fratres tui, et domus patris tui, etiam ipsi pugnaverunt adversum te, et clamaverunt post te plena voce: ne credas eis, cum locuti fuerint tibi bona.]

7[Reliqui domum meam; dimisi hæreditatem meam: dedi dilectam animam meam in manu inimicorum ejus.

8Facta est mihi hæreditas mea quasi leo in silva: dedit contra me vocem, ideo odivi eam.

9Numquid avis discolor hæreditas mea mihi? numquid avis tincta per totum? Venite, congregamini, omnes bestiæ terræ: properate ad devorandum.

10Pastores multi demoliti sunt vineam meam, conculcaverunt partem meam, dederunt portionem meam desiderabilem in desertum solitudinis.

11Posuerunt eam in dissipationem, luxitque super me: desolatione desolata est omnis terra, quia nullus est qui recogitet corde.

12Super omnes vias deserti venerunt vastatores, quia gladius Domini devorabit: ab extremo terræ usque ad extremum ejus, non est pax universæ carni.

13Seminaverunt triticum, et spinas messuerunt: hæreditatem acceperunt, et non eis proderit. Confundemini a fructibus vestris propter iram furoris Domini.

14Hæc dicit Dominus adversum omnes vicinos meos pessimos, qui tangunt hæreditatem quam distribui populo meo Israël: Ecce ego evellam eos de terra sua, et domum Juda evellam de medio eorum.

15Et cum evulsero eos, convertar, et miserebor eorum, et reducam eos: virum ad hæreditatem suam, et virum in terram suam.

16Et erit: si eruditi didicerint vias populi mei, ut jurent in nomine meo: Vivit Dominus ! sicut docuerunt populum meum jurare in Baal, ædificabuntur in medio populi mei.

17Quod si non audierint, evellam gentem illam evulsione et perditione, ait Dominus.]

1Certainly, O Lord, you are just. But if I may contend with you, while still speaking what is just to you: Why does the way of the impious prosper? Why is it well with all those who transgress and act unfairly?

2You planted them, and they took root. They are prospering and bearing fruit. You are near to their mouths, but far from their hearts.

3And you, O Lord, have known me well. You have seen me, and you have tested my heart with you. Gather them together like a flock for the sacrifice and sanctify them for the day of slaughter.

4How long shall the earth mourn? And how long shall the plants of every field whither because of the wickedness of the inhabitants within them? It has consumed the wild animals and the birds. For they said: “He will not see our very end.”

5“If you have struggled to run on foot, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you have been secure in a land of peace, what will you do about the arrogance of the Jordan?

6For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even these have fought against you. And they have cried out after you with loud voice: ‘You should not believe them, when they speak good things to you.’ ”

7“I have abandoned my house. I have disowned my inheritance. I have given my beloved soul into the hand of its enemies.

8My inheritance has become for me like a lion in the forest. It has uttered a voice against me, therefore, I have hated it.

9Is my inheritance to me like a discolored bird? Is it like a bird that has entirely changed color? Approach and assemble, all beasts of the earth! Hurry, so that you may devour!

10Many pastors have demolished my vineyard. They have trampled my portion. They have made my desirable portion into a desert of solitude.

11They have squandered it, and it has grieved concerning me. The entire earth has become utterly desolate, because there is no one who understands with the heart.”

12The devastators have arrived, over all the ways of the wilderness. For the sword of the Lord will devour, from one end of the earth even to its furthest limits. There is no peace for all that is flesh.

13They sowed wheat, but they reaped thorns. They received an inheritance, but it will not benefit them. You will be confounded by your own fruits, because of the wrath of the fury of the Lord.

14Thus says the Lord against all my wicked neighbors, who touch the inheritance that I have distributed to my people Israel: “Behold, I will root them out of their own land, and I will root the house of Judah out of their midst.

15And when I have rooted them out, I will turn back and take pity on them. And I will lead them back, one man to his inheritance, and another man to his land.

16And this shall be: if they are taught and they learn the ways of my people, so that they swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ just as they had taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of my people.

17But if they will not listen, I will uproot that nation unto utter destruction and perdition, says the Lord.”