[1] Righteous are you, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet would I reason
the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all
they at ease who deal very treacherously? [2] You have planted them, yes,
they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near
in their mouth, and far from their heart. [3] But 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. [4] How 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. [5] If 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? [6] For 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. [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. [8]
My heritage is become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her
voice against me; therefore I have hated her. [9] Is my heritage to me as a
speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her round about? go
you, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour. [10] Many
shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under
foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. [11] They
have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land
is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart. [12] Destroyers are 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. [13] They 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. [14] Thus says Yahweh
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. [15] It
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. [16] It 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
midst of my people. [17] But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up
that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.
