1You are righteous, Yahweh, when I bring a case before you; yet I would speak with you about matters of justice. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all the treacherous at ease?
2You planted them, and they even took root; they grow, they even bear fruit. You are near in their mouth but far from their kidneys.
3But you, Yahweh, know me; you see me and test my heart toward you. Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of killing.
4How long will the land mourn and the vegetation of all the field wither? Because of the evil of those who dwell in it, beasts and birds are swept away — for they say, ‘He will not see our end.’
5If you have run with foot-runners and they wore you out, how then can you compete with horses? And if in a land of peace you feel secure, how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?
6For even your brothers and your father’s house — even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have called out fully after you. Do not trust them, though they speak good things to you.
7I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my inheritance; I have given the beloved of my life into the hand of her enemies.
8My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has raised her voice against me — therefore I hate her.
9Is my inheritance a speckled bird of prey to me, that the birds of prey are all around against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.
10Many shepherds have ruined my vineyard, they have trampled my portion; they have turned my pleasant portion into a desolate wilderness.
11He has made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns before me. The whole land is made desolate, for no one takes it to heart.
12Over all the bare heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of Yahweh devours from one end of the land to the other end of the land; there is no peace for all flesh.
13They have sown wheat but reaped thorns; they have worn themselves out with no profit. Be ashamed of your harvests because of the burning anger of Yahweh.
14Thus says Yahweh concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the inheritance that I gave my people Israel to possess: Behold, I am about to uproot them from off their land, and the house of Judah I will pluck up from among them.
15And it shall be, after I have uprooted them, that I will turn back and have compassion on them, and I will bring them back, each to his inheritance and each to his land.
16And it shall be, if 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, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.
17But if they will not listen, then I will utterly uproot and destroy that nation, declares Yahweh.
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