1 U ncompromisingly righteous and rigidly just are You, O Lord, when I complain against and contend with You. Yet let me plead and reason the case with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all they at ease and thriving who deal very treacherously and deceitfully?

Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?

2 Y ou have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit. You are near in their mouths but far from their hearts.

You have planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their mind.

3 B ut You, O Lord, know and understand me and my devotion to You; You see me and try my heart toward You. pull out like sheep for the slaughter and devote and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

But You know me, O Lord; You see me; And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage!

4 H ow long must the land mourn and the grass and herbs of the whole country wither? Through the wickedness of those who dwell in it, the beasts and the birds are consumed and are swept away, because men me, saying, He shall not see our final end.

How long is the land to mourn And the vegetation of the countryside to wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, Animals and birds have been snatched away, Because men have said, “He will not see our latter ending.”

5 I f you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if in a land of peace where you feel secure, then what will you do in the swelling and flooding of the Jordan?

“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 thicket of the Jordan?

6 F or even your brethren and the house of your father—even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, even they are in full cry after you. Believe them not, though they speak fair words and promise good things to you.

“For even your 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 nice things to you.” God’s Answer

7 I have forsaken My house, I have cast off My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My life into the hands of her enemies.

“I have forsaken My house, I have abandoned My inheritance; I have given the beloved of My soul Into the hand of her enemies.

8 M y heritage has become to Me like a lion in the forest; she has uttered her voice against Me; therefore I have hated her.

“My inheritance has become to Me Like a lion in the forest; She has roared against Me; Therefore I have come to hate her.

9 I s My heritage to Me like a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her round about? Go, assemble all the wild beasts of the field; bring them to devour.

“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!

10 M any shepherds have destroyed My vineyard, they have trampled My portion underfoot; they have made My pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

“Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard, They have trampled down My field; They have made My pleasant field A desolate wilderness.

11 T hey have made it a desolation, and desolate it mourns before Me; the whole land has been made desolate, but no man lays it to heart.

“ It has been made a desolation, Desolate, it mourns before Me; The whole land has been made desolate, Because no man lays it to heart.

12 D estroyers have come upon all the bare heights in the desert, for the sword of the Lord devours from one end of the land even to the other; no flesh has peace or can find the means to escape.

“On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of the Lord is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone.

13 T hey have sown wheat but have reaped thorns; they have worn themselves out but without profit. And they shall be ashamed of your harvests and revenues because of the fierce and glowing anger of the Lord.

“They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns, They have strained themselves to no profit. But be ashamed of your harvest Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”

14 T hus says the Lord against all My evil neighbor who touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up from their land and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.

Thus says the Lord concerning all My wicked neighbors who strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel, “Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them.

15 A nd after I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them and will bring them back again, every man to his heritage and every man to his land.

And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land.

16 A nd if these 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 will they be built up in the midst of My people.

Then if they will really 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, they will be built up in the midst of My people.

17 B ut if any nation will not hear and obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, says the Lord.

But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord.