Jeremiah 12

1You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would like to plead a case with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?Cross-references: Gen 18:25 · Deut 32:4 · Ezra 9:15 · Job 12:6 · Job 13:3 · Job 21:7 · +23 more

2You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root. They grow. Yes, they produce fruit. You are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.Cross-references: Isa 29:13 · Jer 3:10 · Jer 11:17 · Jer 45:4 · Ezek 17:5 · Ezek 19:10 · +4 more

3But you, Yahweh, know me. You see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.Cross-references: 2Ki 20:3 · 1Chr 29:17 · Job 23:10 · Ps 7:9 · Ps 11:5 · Ps 17:3 · +14 more

4How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? Because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals and birds are consumed; because they said, “He won’t see our latter end.”Cross-references: Ps 50:21 · Ps 107:34 · Jer 4:25 · Jer 4:28 · Jer 5:13 · Jer 5:31 · +9 more

5“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? Though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?Cross-references: Josh 3:15 · 1Chr 12:15 · Ps 42:7 · Ps 69:1 · Prov 3:11 · Prov 24:10 · +7 more

6For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you! Even they have cried aloud after you! Don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.Cross-references: Gen 37:4 · Job 6:15 · Ps 12:2 · Ps 69:8 · Prov 26:25 · Isa 31:4 · +14 more

7“I 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.Cross-references: Ps 78:59 · Isa 2:6 · Jer 7:14 · Jer 7:29 · Jer 11:15 · Jer 51:5 · +7 more

8My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me. Therefore I have hated her.Cross-references: Jer 2:15 · Jer 51:38 · Hos 9:15 · Amos 6:8 · Zech 11:8

9Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field. Bring them to devour.Cross-references: 2Ki 24:2 · Isa 56:9 · Jer 2:15 · Jer 7:33 · Jer 15:3 · Ezek 16:36 · +4 more

10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They have trodden my portion under foot. They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.Cross-references: Ps 80:8 · Isa 5:1 · Isa 43:28 · Isa 63:18 · Jer 3:19 · Jer 6:3 · +7 more

11They have made it a desolation. It mourns to me, being desolate. The whole land is made desolate, because no one cares.Cross-references: Eccl 7:2 · Isa 42:25 · Isa 57:1 · Jer 6:8 · Jer 9:11 · Jer 10:22 · +8 more

12Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land. No flesh has peace.Cross-references: Lev 26:33 · Isa 34:6 · Isa 57:21 · Isa 66:15 · Jer 3:2 · Jer 4:11 · +12 more

13They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns. They have exhausted themselves, and profit nothing. You will be ashamed of your fruits, because of Yahweh’s fierce anger.”Cross-references: Lev 26:16 · Deut 28:38 · Isa 30:1 · Isa 31:1 · Isa 55:2 · Jer 3:23 · +7 more

14Yahweh says, “Concerning all my evil neighbors, who 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.Cross-references: Deut 30:3 · Ps 105:15 · Ps 106:47 · Isa 11:11 · Jer 2:3 · Jer 3:18 · +22 more

15It will happen that after I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them. I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.Cross-references: Num 32:18 · Deut 3:20 · Deut 30:3 · Isa 23:17 · Jer 48:47 · Jer 49:6 · +2 more

16It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As Yahweh lives;’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the middle of my people.Cross-references: Deut 10:20 · Josh 23:7 · Ps 106:35 · Song 1:8 · Isa 9:18 · Isa 19:23 · +14 more

17But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it,” says Yahweh.Cross-references: Ps 2:8 · Isa 60:12 · Jer 12:14 · Jer 18:7 · Jer 31:28 · Ezek 19:12 · +6 more