Jeremiah 12:4–5

4 How long will the land lie parched

and the grass in every field be withered?

Because those who live in it are wicked,

the animals and birds have perished.

Moreover, the people are saying,

“He will not see what happens to us.”

5 “If you have raced with men on foot

and they have worn you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

4 How long must this land mourn?

Even the grass in the fields has withered.

The wild animals and birds have disappeared

because of the evil in the land.

For the people have said,

“The Lord doesn’t see what’s ahead for us!”

5 “If racing against mere men makes you tired,

how will you race against horses?

If you stumble and fall on open ground,

what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?

4 How long will the land mourn,

And the herbs of every field wither?

The beasts and birds are consumed,

For the wickedness of those who dwell there,

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

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 the floodplain of the Jordan?

4 How much longer will the land stay dried up

and the grass in every field be dead?

The animals and birds in the land have died,

because the people are evil.

Yes, they are even saying,

“God does not see what happens to us.”

5 “If you get tired while racing against people,

how can you race against horses?

If you stumble in a country that is safe,

what will you do in the thick thornbushes along the Jordan River?

4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter end.

5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of the Jordan?

4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of all the fields wither? Because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts and the birds perish; for they say, He will not see our end. 5 If thou hast run with footmen, and they have wearied thee, how wilt thou then contend with horses? And if in a land of peace thou thinkest thyself in security, how wilt thou then do in the swelling of the Jordan?

4 How long will the land mourn? 

How long will the plants in every field remain dried up? 

The animals and the birds are dying, 

because people are wicked. 

They think that Goddoesn’t know what they are doing. 

5 “If you have raced against others on foot, and they have tired you out, 

how can you compete with horses? 

If you stumble in open country, 

how can you live in the jungle along the Jordan River? 

4 How long will the land mourn

and the grass of every field wither?

Because of the evil of its residents,

animals and birds have been swept away,

for the people have said,

“He cannot see what our end will be.”

5 If you have raced with runners

and they have worn you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in a peaceful land,

what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

4 How long will the land mourn

and the grass of every field wither?

For the wickedness of those who live in it,

the animals and the birds are swept away,

and because people said, “He is blind to our ways.”

5 If you have raced with runners and they have wearied you,

how will you compete with horses?

And if you trust in a safe land,

how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?

4 How long will the land mourn, and the vegetation of every field dry up,

because of the wickedness of those who live in it?

The animals and the birds are swept away,

because they have said, “He does not see our future.”

5 “If you run with foot soldiers and they have made you weary,

then how will you compete with horses?

If you have fallen in a peaceful land,

then how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

4 How long will the land be thirsty for water?

How long will the grass in every field be dry?

The people who live in the land are evil.

So the animals and birds have died.

And that’s not all. The people are saying,

“The Lord won’t see what happens to us.”

5 The Lord says, “Suppose you have run in a race with other men.

And suppose they have worn you out.

Then how would you be able to race against horses?

Suppose you feel safe only in open country.

Then how would you get along in the bushes near the Jordan River?

4 How long 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 snatched away,

Because men have said, “He will not see our latter ending.”

5 “If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,

Then how can you compete with horses?

If you fall down in a land of peace,

How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?