12 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? 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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? 6 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. 7 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. 8 Mine
heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me:
therefore have I hated it.
9
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. 10 Many pastors 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 desolate, and being
desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no
man layeth it to heart. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly
pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
