Jeremiah 12:1 - Easy To Read Version Lord, if I argue with you,\par you are always right!\par But I want to ask you about some things that don’t seem right.\par Why are wicked people successful?\par Why do people you can’t trust have such easy lives?\par Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition UNCOMPROMISINGLY RIGHTEOUS and rigidly just are You, O Lord, when I complain against and contend with You. Yet let me plead and reason the case with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all they at ease and thriving who deal very treacherously and deceitfully? American Standard Version (1901) Righteous 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? Common English Bible If I took you to court, LORD, you would win. But I still have questions about your justice. Why do guilty persons enjoy success? Why are evildoers so happy? Catholic Public Domain Version Certainly, O Lord, you are just. But if I may contend with you, while still speaking what is just to you: Why does the way of the impious prosper? Why is it well with all those who transgress and act unfairly? Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Thou indeed, O Lord, art just, if I plead with thee, but yet I will speak what is just to thee: Why doth the way of the wicked prosper? Why is it well with all them that transgress and do wickedly? |
Surely you would not destroy the city. You would not destroy 50 good people to kill the evil people. If that happened, then good people and evil people would be the same—they would both be punished. You are the judge of all the earth. I know you will do the right thing.”
Lord, God of Israel, you are good! And you still have let some of us live. Yes, we are guilty! And because of our guilt, not one of us should be allowed to stand in front of you.
But God, you were right\par about everything that happens to us.\par You were right.\par And we were wrong.\par
But robbers’ tents are not bothered.\par People who make God angry live in peace,\par and their own strength\par is their only god!\par
But I don’t want to argue with you. I want to speak to God All-Powerful. I want to argue with God about my troubles.
In the city you can hear\par the sad sounds of the dying people.\par Those hurt people cry out for help.\par But God does not listen.\par
Evil people might feel safe and secure\par for a short time.\par They might want to be powerful.\par
It wraps its roots around a pile of rocks,\par looking for a place to grow in the rocks.\par
Lord, I know that your decisions are fair.\par And it was right for you to punish me.\par
Everything the Lord does is good.\par Everything he does shows how good he is.\par
Don’t get upset at evil people.\par Don’t be jealous of people\par who do bad things.\par
I saw a wicked person that was powerful.\par He was like a strong, healthy tree.\par
I did the things you say are wrong.\par God, you are the One I sinned against.\par I confess these things so people will know\par I am wrong, and you are right.\par Your decisions are fair.\par
God, you want me to be truly loyal,\par so put true wisdom deep inside of me.\par
Wicked people live and die like weeds.\par And the worthless things they do\par will be destroyed forever.\par
“Foolish people die because they refuse to follow wisdom. They are happy to continue in their foolish ways, and this will destroy them.
There is something else that happens on earth that does not seem fair. Bad things should happen to bad people and good things should happen to good people. But sometimes bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. That is not fair.
The Lord, the king of Jacob, says, “Come, tell me your arguments. Show me your proof, \{and we will decide the things that are right\}.
“But even then,\par you didnt listen to me!\par You didn‘t learn anything!\par You refused to listen to anything\par I told you.\par I have known since the beginning\par that you would be against me.\par You have rebelled against me\par from the time you were born.\par
But Lord, you are a fair judge. You know how to test peoples’ hearts and minds. I will tell you my arguments. And I will let you give them the punishment they deserve.
These men are your own brothers.\par Members of your own family\par are making plans against you.\par People from your own family\par are yelling at you.\par Don’t trust them,\par even when they speak to you like friends.”\par
But you have been like a woman\par that is unfaithful to her husband.\par Family of Israel, you have been unfaithful to me!”\par This message was from the Lord.\par
I said to myself, ‘Israel will come back to me after she has finished doing these evil things.’ But she did not come back to me. And Israel’s unfaithful sister, Judah, saw what she did.
After I gave the deed to Baruch son of Neriah I prayed to the Lord. I said:
The family of Israel and the family of Judah\par have been unfaithful to me in every way.”\par This message is from the Lord.\par
If only I had a place in the desert,\par a house where travelers spend the night,\par I could leave my people.\par I could go away from those people.\par Why? Because they are all unfaithful to God.\par They have all turned against him.\par
Now Jerusalem says,\par “I refused to listen to the Lord.\par So the Lord is right for doing these things.\par So listen, all you people!\par Look at my pain!\par My young women and men\par have gone into captivity.\par
\{God said,\} “You people might say, ‘\{God\} my Master isn’t fair!’ But listen, family of Israel. I am fair. You are the ones who are not fair!
The Lord kept the terrible things ready for us—and he made those things happen to us. The Lord did this because he is fair in everything he does. But we still have not listened to him.
“Lord, you are good, and goodness belongs to you! But shame belongs to us today. Shame belongs to the people from Judah and Jerusalem. Shame belongs to all the people of Israel—to the people that are near, and to the people that are far away. Lord, you scattered those people among many nations. And the people of Israel in all those nations should be ashamed. They should be ashamed of all the bad things they did against you, Lord.
But the people broke the Agreement\par just like Adam did. {\cf2\super [65]} \par They were unfaithful to me\par in their country.\par
The law is weak and not fair to people. Evil people win their fights against good people. So, the law is no longer fair. Justice doesn’t win anymore!
But God is still in that city. And he continues to be good. God does not do anything wrong. He continues to help his people. Morning after morning he helps his people make good decisions. But those bad people are not ashamed of the bad things they do.
We think proud people are happy. Evil people succeed. They do bad things to test God’s patience—and God does not punish them.”
“The Rock (the Lord)—his work is perfect! Why? Because all his ways are right! God is true and faithful. He is good and honest.