1You are righteous, Yahweh, when I bring a case against you, yet I would speak to you about your justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
2You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow, they also bring forth fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their heart.
3But you know me, Yahweh, you see me, and test my heart, that it is 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 vegetation of the whole country wither? Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it, the animals are consumed, and the birds; for they said, “He cannot see our latter end.”
5“If you have run with the footmen and they have wearied you, then how can you compete against horses? And if you feel secure in a land of peace, yet how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?
6For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you. Do not believe them, though they say good things 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.
8My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest, she has raised her voice against me; therefore I have come to hate her.
9Is my heritage to me like a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour.
10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11They have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate because no man lays it to heart.”
12Destroyers have 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.
13They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. And you will be ashamed of your harvests, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
14This is what Yahweh says against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance that I have caused my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
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.
16Then, if they will learn, yes, learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, saying, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ just as they once taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of my people.
17But if they will not listen, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking it up and destroying it, says Yahweh.”
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