Jeremiah 12:1-9

New International Version

Jeremiah’s Complaint

12 You are always righteous,^(A) Lord,
    when I bring a case^(B) before you.
Yet I would speak with you about your justice:^(C)
    Why does the way of the wicked prosper?^(D)
    Why do all the faithless live at ease?
²You have planted^(E) them, and they have taken root;
    they grow and bear fruit.^(F)
You are always on their lips
    but far from their hearts.^(G)
³Yet you know me, Lord;
    you see me and test^(H) my thoughts about you.
Drag them off like sheep^(I) to be butchered!
    Set them apart for the day of slaughter!^(J)
⁴How long will the land lie parched^(K)
    and the grass in every field be withered?^(L)
Because those who live in it are wicked,
    the animals and birds have perished.^(M)
Moreover, the people are saying,
    “He will not see what happens to us.”

God’s Answer

⁵“If you have raced with men on foot
    and they have worn you out,
    how can you compete with horses?
If you stumble^[a] in safe country,
    how will you manage in the thickets^(N) by^[b] the Jordan?
⁶Your relatives, members of your own family—
    even they have betrayed you;
    they have raised a loud cry against you.^(O)
Do not trust them,
    though they speak well of you.^(P)

⁷“I will forsake^(Q) my house,
    abandon^(R) my inheritance;
I will give the one I love^(S)
    into the hands of her enemies.^(T)
⁸My inheritance has become to me
    like a lion^(U) in the forest.
She roars at me;
    therefore I hate her.^(V)
⁹Has not my inheritance become to me
    like a speckled bird of prey
    that other birds of prey surround and attack?
Go and gather all the wild beasts;
    bring them to devour.^(W)

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Footnotes

Jeremiah 12:5 Or you feel secure only
Jeremiah 12:5 Or the flooding of

Hebrews 12:1-11

New International Version

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run^(A) with perseverance^(B) the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus,^(C) the pioneer^(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,^(E) scorning its shame,^(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^(G) ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary^(H) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

⁴In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.^(I) ⁵And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart^(J) when he rebukes you,
⁶because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,^(K)
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”^[a]^(L)

⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.^(M) For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline^(N)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits^(O) and live!^(P) ¹⁰They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.^(Q) ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace^(R) for those who have been trained by it.