Jeremiah 12

1 Righteous [just, morally upright] are You, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], when I plead [present my case, complain] before You. Yet about Your judgments [justice, righteous decisions] I wish to contend [argue, reason] with You: Why does the way [path, manner of life] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty] prosper [succeed, flourish]? Why do all [everything, every person] the faithless [unfaithful, treacherous] live at ease [in peace, securely, without care]? word study 2 You [allowed to flourish] planted them, and they have taken root [established a firm foundation]. They have grown [developed and matured] and produced fruit [yielded a harvest, spiritual results]. You are ever [always, constantly] on their lips [in their speech, with their words], but far [distant, removed] from their hearts [their innermost being, their kidneys, the seat of their emotions]. word study 3 But You [knowing me intimately] know me, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]; You see me [with discerning eyes] and test [examine, prove] my heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] toward You [in close relationship, near]. Drag away [pull out, tear] the wicked [those who oppose God] like sheep [a flock, the innocent] to the slaughter [to be killed, butchered] and set them apart [consecrate, separate] for the day [a period of time, a season] of carnage [slaughter, killing]. word study 4 How long [till when, for how much longer] will the land [earth, territory] mourn [lament, grieve] and the grass [vegetation, herbs] of every field [country, region] be withered [dry up, perish]? Because of the evil [wickedness, moral harm] of its residents [those dwelling, inhabitants], the animals [beasts, large quadruped mammals] and birds [flying creatures] have been swept away [consumed, destroyed], for the people have said, “He [God, the Provider] cannot see [is unaware of, does not know] what our end [last part, final outcome] will be [our future, what comes after].” word study 5 “If you have raced [run with the footmen] with men on foot [as a foot soldier] and they have worn you out [made you weary, disgusted], how can you compete [contend, struggle] with horses [chariot horses, swift and powerful]? If you stumble [trip up, fall] in a peaceful [safe, secure] land [country, territory], how will you do [make it, survive] in the thickets [thorny places, tangled undergrowth] of the Jordan [the Jordan River, a place of spiritual challenge]? word study 6 Even your brothers [relatives, kin]— your own father’s household [family, clan]— even they [specifically, they themselves] have betrayed [dealt treacherously, acted unfaithfully] you; even they have cried aloud [called out publicly, shouted] against you [in opposition to you]. Do not trust [believe not, have no faith] them, though they speak [say, utter] well [pleasantly, kindly] of you [towards you, regarding you]. word study 7 I have forsaken [abandoned, left] My house [dwelling place, temple]; I have abandoned [left, permitted to be taken] My inheritance [heritage, promised land]. I have given [handed over, entrusted] the love [dearly beloved, cherished one] of My life [soul, being] into the hands [palm, control] of her enemies [adversaries, those who oppose]. word study 8 My inheritance [heritage, something passed down] has become to Me like a lion in the forest [a woodland or copse of bushes]. She has roared [cried out, uttered her voice] against Me; therefore I hate [feel intense dislike, have hostility towards] her. word study 9 Is not My inheritance [My people, My heritage] to Me like a speckled [variegated, multicolored] bird of prey [a hawk] with other birds of prey [vultures, predators] circling [surrounding, encompassing] against her? Go [walk, come], gather [assemble, collect] all the beasts [wild animals, creatures] of the field [the land, the earth]; bring them to devour [eat, consume] her. word study 10 Many [numerous, a large number of] shepherds [rulers, leaders, or pastors] have destroyed [ruined, corrupted] My vineyard [garden, plot of land]; they have trampled [trod down, oppressed] My plot of ground [portion, heritage]. They have turned [changed, transformed] My pleasant [desirable, delightful] field [land, inheritance] into a desolate [barren, wasted] wasteland [wilderness, empty land]. word study 11 They have made it a desolation [a wasteland, laid waste]; desolate [devastated, ruined] before Me, it mourns [cries out in sorrow, laments]. All the land [the entire earth, country] is laid waste [made desolate, devastated], but no man [human, individual] takes it to heart [considers, lays to heart, ponders]. word study 12 Over all [every part of, the entire] the barren [desolate, uninhabited] heights [high places, mountains] in the wilderness [desert, open field] the destroyers [those who ruin, spoilers] have come, for [because, since] the sword [cutting instrument, weapon] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] devours [eats, consumes] from one end [border, edge] of the earth [land, ground] to the other [opposite, farther]. No [not any, none] flesh [body, living being] has peace [shalom, completeness, wellness]. word study 13 They have sown [planted seed, scattered ideas] wheat [grain, a staple crop] but harvested [reaped, gathered] thorns [prickly weeds, troublesome growth]. They have exhausted [worn out, become weak] themselves to no avail [without profit, with no benefit]. Bear the shame [be ashamed, feel guilty] of your harvest [produce, crops] because of the fierce [intense, burning] anger [wrath] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God].” word study 14 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: “As for all My evil [morally bad, wicked] neighbors [those living nearby, surrounding nations] who attack [strike, touch] the inheritance [possession, heritage] that I bequeathed [caused to inherit, gave] to My people [nation] Israel, I am about to uproot [pluck out, tear away] them from their land [earth, territory], and I will uproot [remove, destroy] the house [family, tribe] of Judah [the southern kingdom] from among [out of the midst, within] them. word study 15 But after [following, in the rear] I have uprooted [plucked out, torn away] them, I will once again have compassion [pity, show love] on them and return [turn back, come again] each one to his inheritance [property, family heirloom] and to his land [country, territory]. word study 16 And if they will diligently [honestly, with integrity] learn [study, become acquainted with] the ways [customs, manner of life] of My people and swear [make a solemn promise, vow] by My name [identity, character], saying, ‘As surely as [with the certainty that] the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] lives’—just as they once taught [instructed, guided] My people to swear [take an oath] by Baal [the Phoenician deity, a false god]—then they will be established [built up, firmly settled] among [in the midst of] My people. word study 17 But if they will not [refuse to] obey, then I will uproot [pluck up, utterly destroy] that nation; I will uproot [tear away] it and destroy [bring to perish, cause to be lost] it, declares the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of all].” word study