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“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? 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 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. 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. 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? 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.”
“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. 8 Mine
heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me:
therefore have I hated it. 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. 10 Many pastors 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 desolate,
[and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made
desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart. 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. 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.”
“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. 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. 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. 17 But if
they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation,
saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 12:1-17 AV)
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