1 R ighteous art thou, Jehovah, when I plead with thee; yet will I speak with thee of judgments. Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?

Uncompromisingly 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?

2 T hou hast planted them, they also have taken root: they advance, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, but far from their reins.

You 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.

3 B ut thou, Jehovah, knowest me; thou hast seen me, and proved my heart toward thee. Drag them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.

But 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.

4 H ow long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of all the fields wither? Because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts and the birds perish; for they say, He will not see our end.

How 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.

5 I f thou hast run with footmen, and they have wearied thee, how wilt thou then contend with horses? And if in a land of peace thou thinkest thyself in security, how wilt thou then do in the swelling of the Jordan?

If 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?

6 F or even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee, even they have cried aloud after thee. Believe them not, though they speak good unto thee.

For 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.

7 I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage, I have given the beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

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.

8 M y heritage is become unto me as a lion in the forest; it hath raised its voice against me: therefore have I hated it.

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

9 M y heritage is unto me a speckled bird of prey; the birds of prey round about are against her. Go, assemble all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.

Is 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.

10 M any shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness:

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

11 t hey have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourneth unto me: the whole land is made desolate, for no man layeth it to heart.

They 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.

12 S poilers are come upon all heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Jehovah devoureth from one end of the land even to the end of the land: no flesh hath peace.

Destroyers 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.

13 T hey have sown wheat, and they reap thorns; they have put themselves to pain, do not profit. Be ye therefore ashamed of your revenues, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.

They 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.

14 T hus saith Jehovah against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

Thus 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.

15 A nd it shall come to pass, after I have plucked them up, I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them back, each one to his inheritance, and each one to his land.

And 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.

16 A nd it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, Jehovah liveth—even as they taught my people to swear by Baal—they shall be built up in the midst of my people.

And 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.

17 A nd if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith Jehovah.

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