Jeremiah 12:1-6

New King James Version

Jeremiah’s Question

12 Righteous ^(A)are You, O Lord, when I plead with You;
Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.
^(B)Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
²You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;
They grow, yes, they bear fruit.
^(C)You are near in their mouth
But far from their ^[a]mind.

³But You, O Lord, ^(D)know me;
You have seen me,
And You have ^(E)tested my heart toward You.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
And prepare them for ^(F)the day of slaughter.
⁴How long will ^(G)the land mourn,
And the herbs of every field wither?
^(H)The beasts and birds are consumed,
^(I)For the wickedness of those who dwell there,
Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

⁵“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?
And if in the land of peace,
In which you trusted, they wearied you,
Then how will you do in ^(J)the ^[b]floodplain of the Jordan?
⁶For even ^(K)your brothers, the house of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you;
Yes, they have called ^[c]a multitude after you.
^(L)Do not believe them,
Even though they speak ^[d]smooth words to you.