Jeremiah 11:18–12:6

Plot Against Jeremiah

¹⁸Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. ¹⁹I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;^o I did not realize that they had plotted^p against me, saying,

“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;

let us cut him off from the land of the living,^q

that his name be remembered^r no more.”

²⁰But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously^s

and test the heart^t and mind,^u

let me see your vengeance^v on them,

for to you I have committed my cause.

²¹Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth^w who are threatening to kill you,^x saying, “Do not prophesy^y in the name of the Lord or you will die^z by our hands”—²²therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men^a will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. ²³Not even a remnant^b will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.^c”

Jeremiah’s Complaint

12You are always righteous,^d Lord,

when I bring a case^e before you.

Yet I would speak with you about your justice:^f

Why does the way of the wicked prosper?^g

Why do all the faithless live at ease?

²You have planted^h them, and they have taken root;

they grow and bear fruit.ⁱ

You are always on their lips

but far from their hearts.^j

³Yet you know me, Lord;

you see me and test^k my thoughts about you.

Drag them off like sheep^l to be butchered!

Set them apart for the day of slaughter!^m

⁴How long will the land lie parchedⁿ

and the grass in every field be withered?^o

Because those who live in it are wicked,

the animals and birds have perished.^p

Moreover, the people are saying,

“He will not see what happens to us.”

God’s Answer

⁵“If you have raced with men on foot

and they have worn you out,

how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble^a in safe country,

how will you manage in the thickets^q by^b the Jordan?

⁶Your relatives, members of your own family—

even they have betrayed you;

they have raised a loud cry against you.^r

Do not trust them,

though they speak well of you.^s