Jeremías 12:2

2 Tú los has plantado,
y ellos echaron raíces y han prosperado.
Tu nombre está en sus labios,
aunque estás lejos de su corazón.

Jeremías 12:2 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 12:2

Thou hast planted them
In the land of Canaan, fixed the bounds of their habitation, given them a firm and comfortable settlement; for all the good things, even of the wicked, come from God: yea, they have taken root;
as everything that is planted does not; but these did, though it was downwards in the earth, on which their hearts were set, and so were strengthened and established in their worldly circumstances: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit;
but to themselves, not to God; not fruits of righteousness or good works; they grow, not in grace and holiness, but in their worldly substance; and they brought forth fruit, not such as were meet for repentance, but they had great riches, and numerous families; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions, "they produce children, and bring forth fruit." The Targum is,

``they become rich, yea, they possess substance.''

Thou art near in their mouth;
they often made use of the name of God, either in swearing by it, or praying to him in an external manner; they called themselves the Lord's people, and boasted of being his priests, and employed in his service; they took his covenant, and the words of his law, into their mouths, and taught them the people, and yet had no sincere regard for these things: and far from their reins;
from the affections of their hearts, and the desires of their souls; they had no true love for God, nor fear of him, nor faith in him. The Targum is,

``near are the words of thy law in their mouth, and far is thy fear from their reins.''

Jeremías 12:2 In-Context

1 Jeremías cuestiona la justicia de Dios
S
, tú siempre me haces justicia
cuando llevo un caso ante ti.
Así que déjame presentarte esta queja:
¿Por qué los malvados son tan prósperos?
¿Por qué son tan felices los malignos?

2 Tú los has plantado,
y ellos echaron raíces y han prosperado.
Tu nombre está en sus labios,
aunque estás lejos de su corazón.

3 En cuanto a mí, Señor
, tú conoces mi corazón;
me ves y pruebas mis pensamientos.
¡Arrastra a esta gente como se lleva a las ovejas al matadero!
¡Apártalos para la masacre!

4 ¿Hasta cuándo tendrá que llorar esta tierra?
Incluso la hierba de los campos se ha marchitado.
Los animales salvajes y las aves han desaparecido
debido a la maldad que hay en la tierra.
Pues la gente ha dicho:
«¡El Señor
no ve nuestro futuro!».

5 El Señor
le contesta a Jeremías
«Si te cansa competir contra simples hombres,
¿cómo podrás correr contra caballos?
Si tropiezas y caes en campo abierto,
¿qué harás en los matorrales cerca del Jordán?