Righteous art thou, O LORD
, when I plead
with thee: yet let me talk
with thee of thy judgments
: Wherefore doth the way
of the wicked
prosper
? wherefore are all they happy
that deal very
treacherously
?
Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root
: they grow
, yea, they bring forth
fruit
: thou art near
in their mouth
, and far from
their reins
.
But thou, O LORD, knowest
me: thou hast seen
me, and tried
mine heart
toward thee: pull them out
like sheep
for the slaughter
, and prepare
them for the day
of slaughter
.
How long shall the land mourn
, and the herbs
of every field
wither
, for the wickedness
of them that dwell
therein? the beasts
are consumed
, and the birds
; because they said
, He shall not see
our last end
.
If thou hast run with the footmen
, and they have wearied
thee, then how canst thou contend
with horses
? and if in the land
of peace
, wherein thou trustedst
, they wearied thee , then how wilt thou do
in the swelling
of Jordan
?
For even thy brethren, and the house
of thy father
, even they have dealt treacherously
with thee; yea, they have called
a multitude
after
thee: believe
them not, though they speak
fair words
unto thee.
I have forsaken mine house
, I have left
mine heritage
; I have given
the dearly beloved
of my soul
into the hand
of her enemies
.
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion
in the forest
; it crieth out
against me: therefore have I hated
it.
Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled
bird
, the birds
round about
are against her; come
ye, assemble
all the beasts
of the field
, come
to devour
.
Many pastors
have destroyed
my vineyard
, they have trodden
my portion
under foot
, they have made
my pleasant
portion
a desolate
wilderness
.
They have made it desolate
, and being desolate
it mourneth
unto me; the whole land
is made desolate
, because no man
layeth
it to heart
.
The spoilers are come
upon all high places
through the wilderness
: for the sword
of the LORD
shall devour
from the one end
of the land
even to the other end
of the land
: no flesh
shall have peace
.
They have sown wheat
, but shall reap
thorns
: they have put themselves to pain
, but shall not profit
: and they shall be ashamed
of your revenues
because of the fierce
anger
of the LORD
.
Thus saith the LORD
against all mine evil
neighbours
, that touch
the inheritance
which I have caused my people
Israel
to inherit
; Behold, I will pluck them out
of their land
, and pluck out
the house
of Judah
from among
them.
And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out
I will return
, and have compassion
on them, and will bring them again
, every man
to his heritage
, and every man
to his land
.
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn
the ways
of my people
, to swear
by my name
, The LORD
liveth
; as they taught
my people
to swear
by Baal
; then shall they be built
in the midst
of my people
.
But if they will not obey, I will utterly
pluck up
and destroy
that nation
, saith
the LORD
.