1Righteous art thou , O Jehovah , when I contend with thee ; yet would I reason the cause with thee : wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper ? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously? 2Thou hast planted them , yea , they have taken root ; they grow , yea , they bring forth fruit : thou art near in their mouth , and far from their heart . 3But thou , O Jehovah , knowest me ; thou seest me , and triest my heart toward thee : pull them out like sheep for the slaughter , and prepare them for the day of slaughter . 4How 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.
God's Response and Assurance
5If 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 ? 6For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee ; even they have cried aloud after thee : believe them not , though they speak fair words unto thee .
The Fate of the Wicked
7I have forsaken my house , I have cast off my heritage ; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. 8My heritage is become unto me as a lion in the forest : she hath uttered her voice against me ; therefore I have hated her . 9Is my heritage unto me as a speckled bird of prey ? are the birds of prey against her round about ? go ye, assemble all the beasts of the field , bring them to devour. 10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard , they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness . 11They have made it a desolation ; it mourneth unto me , being desolate ; the whole land is made desolate , because no man layeth it to heart . 12Destroyers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness ; for the sword of Jehovah devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh hath peace . 13They have sown wheat , and have reaped thorns ; they have put themselves to pain , and profit nothing : and ye shall be ashamed of your fruits , because of the fierce anger of Jehovah .
A Call to Repentance
14Thus saith Jehovah against all mine evil neighbors , that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit : Behold , I will pluck them up from off their land , and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them . 15And it shall come to pass , after that I have plucked them up , I will return and have compassion on them ; and I will bring them again , every man to his heritage , and every man to his land . 16And it shall come to pass , if they will diligently learn the ways of my people , to swear by my name , As Jehovah liveth ; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal ; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people . 17But if they will not hear , then will I pluck up that nation , plucking up and destroying it , saith Jehovah .