| Holman Christian Standard Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1You will be righteous, LORD, even if I bring a case against You. Yet, I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous live at ease? | 1Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? |
| 2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience. | 2You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. |
| 3As for You, LORD, You know me; You see me. You test whether my heart is with You. Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter and set them apart for the day of killing. | 3But you, O LORD, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. |
| 4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? Because of the evil of its residents, animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, "He cannot see what our end will be." | 4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end.” |
| 5If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? | 5“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? |
| 6Even your brothers--your own father's household-- even they were treacherous to you; even they have cried out loudly after you. Do not have confidence in them, though they speak well of you. | 6For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you.” |
| 7I have abandoned My house; I have deserted My inheritance. I have given the love of My life into the hands of her enemies. | 7“I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. |
| 8My inheritance has acted toward Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me. Therefore, I hate her. | 8My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her. |
| 9Is My inheritance like a hyena to Me? Are birds of prey circling her? Go, gather all the wild animals; bring them to devour her. | 9Is my heritage to me like a hyena’s lair? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. |
| 10Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of land. They have turned My desirable plot into a desolate wasteland. | 10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. |
| 11They have made it a desolation. It mourns, desolate, before Me. All the land is desolate, but no one takes it to heart. | 11They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart. |
| 12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the LORD has a sword that devours from one end of the earth to the other. No one has peace. | 12Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace. |
| 13They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves but have no profit. Be put to shame by your harvests because of the LORD's burning anger. | 13They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the LORD.” |
| 14This is what the LORD says: "Concerning all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people, Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from them. | 14Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. |
| 15After I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land. | 15And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. |
| 16If they will diligently learn the ways of My people--to swear by My name, 'As Yahweh lives,' just as they taught My people to swear by Baal--they will be built up among My people. | 16And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. |
| 17However, if they will not obey, then I will uproot and destroy that nation." This is the LORD's declaration. | 17But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD.” |
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