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?

You are right and good, O Lord, when I complain to You about my trouble. Yet I would like to talk with You about what is fair. Why does the way of the sinful go well? Why do all those who cannot be trusted have it so easy?

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, and they have taken root. They grow and have given fruit. You are near on their lips but far from their heart.

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 test how my heart is with You. Take them off like sheep to be killed. Set them apart for the day of killing.

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 will the land be filled with sorrow? How long will the grass of every field dry up? For the sin of those who live in it, animals and birds have been taken away, because men have said, “He will not see what happens to us.” God’s Answer

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 men on foot and they have made you tired, then how can you run as fast as horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, how will you do among all the trees beside 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 those of your father’s house have not been faithful to you. They have cried to you in a loud voice. Do not believe them, even if they say pleasing things to you.” The Lord’s Sorrow for Israel

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 left My house. I have left My chosen nation. I have given the loved one of My soul into the hand of those who hate her.

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 chosen nation has become to Me like a lion among the trees. She has raised her voice against Me, so I 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 chosen nation like a spot-covered, flesh-eating bird to Me? Are the flesh-eating birds against her on every side? Go, gather all the wild animals of the field, and bring them to eat.

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 destroyed My grape-field. They have crushed My field under foot. They have turned My good field to an empty desert.

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 laid waste. Destroyed and empty, it cries with sorrow before Me. The whole land has been laid waste, because no one cares.

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 open hill-tops in the desert, destroyers have come. For the sword of the Lord destroys from one end of the land 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 planted grain and have gathered thorns. They have worked hard, but have nothing. Be ashamed of what you gather because of the burning anger of the Lord.” Israel’s Neighbors

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.

This is what the Lord says about all My sinful neighbors who take the gift I have given to My people Israel: “See, I am about to pull them up by the roots from their land. And I will pull up the people of Judah by the roots 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.

But after I have pulled them up by the roots, I will have loving-pity on them again, and will bring them back. I will return each one to what he has been given and 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 for sure learn the ways of My people, and promise by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught My people to promise by Baal, then they will be built up among 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 pull that nation up by the roots and destroy it,” says the Lord.