Jeremiah’s Life Threatened

18 Now the Lord gave me knowledge of it, and I know it; for You showed me their doings. 19 But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised schemes against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, vand let us cut him off from wthe land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”

20 But, O Lord of hosts,

You who judge righteously,

xTesting the 4mind and the heart,

Let me see Your yvengeance on them,

For to You I have revealed my cause.

21 “Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of zAnathoth who seek your life, saying, a‘Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, lest you die by our hand’—22 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall bdie by famine; 23 and there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring catastrophe on the men of Anathoth, even cthe year of their punishment.’ ”

Jeremiah’s Question

12 Righteous aare You, O Lord, when I plead with You;

Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments.

bWhy does the way of the wicked prosper?

Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?

2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root;

They grow, yes, they bear fruit.

cYou are near in their mouth

But far from their 1mind.

3 But You, O Lord, dknow me;

You have seen me,

And You have etested my heart toward You.

Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,

And prepare them for fthe day of slaughter.

4 How long will gthe land mourn,

And the herbs of every field wither?

hThe beasts and birds are consumed,

iFor the wickedness of those who dwell there,

Because they said, “He will not see our final end.”

The Lord Answers Jeremiah

5 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,

Then how can you contend with horses?

And if in the land of peace,

In which you trusted, they wearied you,

Then how will you do in jthe 2floodplain of the Jordan?

6 For even kyour brothers, the house of your father,

Even they have dealt treacherously with you;

Yes, they have called 3a multitude after you.

lDo not believe them,

Even though they speak 4smooth words to you.

7 “I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage;

I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.

8 My heritage is to Me like a lion in the forest;

It cries out against Me;

Therefore I have mhated it.

9 My 5heritage is to Me like a speckled vulture;

The vultures all around are against her.

Come, assemble all the beasts of the field,

nBring them to devour!