1
Righteous are You, O LORD, that I would plead my case with You; Indeed I would discussmatters of justice with You: Why has the way of the wickedprospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
3
But 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!
4
Howlong* 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 snatchedaway, Because men have said, "He will not see our latterending."
5
"If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, Then how can you compete with horses? If you falldown in a land of peace, How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
6
"For even your brothers and the household of your father, Even they have dealttreacherously with you, Even they have criedaloudafter you. Do not believe them, although they may saynicethings to you."
9
"Is My inheritance like a speckledbird of prey to Me? Are the birds of preyagainst her on everyside? Go, gatherall the beasts of the field, Bring them to devour!
12
"On all the bareheights in the wildernessDestroyers have come, For a sword of the LORD is devouring From one end of the land even to the other*; There is nopeace for anyone*.
13
"They have sownwheat and have reapedthorns, They have strained themselves to noprofit. But be ashamed of your harvestBecause of the fierceanger of the LORD."
14
Thussays the LORDconcerningall My wickedneighbors who strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My peopleIsrael, "Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
15
"And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will againhavecompassion on them; and I will bring them back, eachone to his inheritance and eachone to his land.
16
"Then if they will reallylearn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, 'As the LORDlives,' even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people.