1 Y ou are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who 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 Y ou have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they produce fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.

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 you, Yahweh, know me; you see me, and try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them 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 the whole country wither? for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter 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 you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride 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 your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you: don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.

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 dearly 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 has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her.

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 I s my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals 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; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays 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 D estroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has 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 have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.

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 Y ahweh says against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up 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 I t shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man 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 I t shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Yahweh lives; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the middle 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 B ut if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.

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