1 You are righteous, O Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are total betrayers at ease?
2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
3 But you, O Yahweh, know me; you see me, and try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4 How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? For the wickedness of those who dwell in it, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He will not see our latter end.
5 If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud after you: don't believe them, though they speak fair words to you.
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.
8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her.
9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? Are the birds of prey against her round about? Go{+}, assemble{+} all the beasts of the field, bring{+} them to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart.
12 Destroyers have come upon 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.
13 They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out, and profit nothing. And be{+} ashamed of your{+} fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
14 Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: look, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
15 And it will 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.
16 And it will come to pass, 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 midst of my people.
17 But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.