(KJV) Jeremiah 12¹

⥃The Prosperity of the Wicked

[1] Righteous² [art] thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk³ with thee of [thy] judgments: Wherefore doth⁴ the way of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal⁵ very treacherously? [2] Thou hast⁶ planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow⁷, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near⁸ in their mouth, and far from their reins. [3] But thou, O Lord, knowest⁹ me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward¹⁰ thee: pull¹¹ them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day¹² of slaughter. [4] How long¹³ shall the land mourn, and the herbs¹⁴ of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the¹⁵ beasts¹⁶ are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

⥃God’s Answer to Jeremiah

[5] [¶]If thou hast¹⁷ run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst¹⁸ thou contend with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling¹⁹ of Jordan? [6] For even thy brethren²⁰, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea²¹, they have called²² a multitude after thee: believe them not, though²³ they speak fair words²⁴ unto thee.

[7] I have forsaken²⁵ mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given²⁶ the dearly beloved²⁷ of my soul into the hand of her enemies. [8] Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out²⁸ against me: therefore²⁹ have I hated it. [9] Mine³⁰ heritage [is] unto me [as] a speckled bird³¹, the birds³² round about [are] against her; come³³ ye³⁴, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour. [10] Many pastors³⁵ have destroyed my vineyard³⁶, they have trodden³⁷ my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion³⁸ a desolate wilderness. [11] They have made it³⁹ desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth⁴⁰ unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth⁴¹ [it] to heart. [12] The spoilers⁴² are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword⁴³ of the Lord shall devour from the [one] end of the land even to the [other] end of the land: no⁴⁴ flesh shall have peace. [13] They have sown⁴⁵ wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put⁴⁶ themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they⁴⁷ shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

⥃A Message for Israel’s Neighbors ^{[ Amos 1:1–15 ]}

[14] Thus saith the Lord against⁴⁸ all mine evil neighbours, that⁴⁹ touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will⁵⁰ pluck them out of their land, and pluck⁵¹ out the house of Judah from among them.⁵² [15] And it shall come to pass, after⁵³ that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage⁵⁴, and every man to his land. [16] And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name⁵⁵, The Lord liveth; as they⁵⁶ taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built⁵⁷ in the midst of my people. [17] But if⁵⁸ they will not obey, I will utterly pluck⁵⁹ up and destroy that nation, saith the Lord.