| New International Version | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1You are always righteous, LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? | 1Righteous are You, O LORD, that I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease? |
| 2You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. | 2You have planted them, they have also taken root; They grow, they have even produced fruit. You are near to their lips But far from their mind. |
| 3Yet you know me, LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter! | 3But You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart's attitude toward You. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter And set them apart for a day of carnage! |
| 4How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, "He will not see what happens to us." | 4How long is the land to mourn And the vegetation of the countryside to wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, Animals and birds have been snatched away, Because men have said, "He will not see our latter ending." |
| 5"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? | 5"If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you fall down in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? |
| 6Your relatives, members of your own family-- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. | 6"For even your brothers and the household of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you, Even they have cried aloud after you. Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you." |
| 7"I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies. | 7"I have forsaken My house, I have abandoned My inheritance; I have given the beloved of My soul Into the hand of her enemies. |
| 8My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her. | 8"My inheritance has become to Me Like a lion in the forest; She has roared against Me; Therefore I have come to hate her. |
| 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. | 9"Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me? Are the birds of prey against her on every side? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour! |
| 10Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. | 10"Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard, They have trampled down My field; They have made My pleasant field A desolate wilderness. |
| 11It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares. | 11"It has been made a desolation, Desolate, it mourns before Me; The whole land has been made desolate, Because no man lays it to heart. |
| 12Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe. | 12"On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of the LORD is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone. |
| 13They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger." | 13"They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns, They have strained themselves to no profit. But be ashamed of your harvest Because of the fierce anger of the LORD." |
| 14This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them. | 14Thus says the LORD concerning all My wicked neighbors who strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel, "Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them. |
| 15But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country. | 15"And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. |
| 16And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'--even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal--then they will be established among my people. | 16"Then if they will really 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, they will be built up in the midst of My people. |
| 17But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD. | 17"But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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