Jeremiah 12

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 12

1¶ 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?

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 reins.

3But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine 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 every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

5If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

6For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

7¶ I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

8Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.

9Mine heritage [is] unto me [as] a speckled bird, the birds round about [are] against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

10Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

11They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart.

12The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the [one] end of the land even to the [other] end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.

13They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

14¶ Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

15And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and 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, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

17But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jeremiah laments to the LORD, questioning why the wicked prosper while the land suffers. The LORD responds by challenging Jeremiah to prepare for greater trials, revealing that even his own family is treacherous. God then laments His forsaken heritage, describing its desolation due to wicked leaders, and promises future judgment and eventual restoration for both Judah and surrounding nations who learn His ways.

Medium Summary

Jeremiah opens by pleading with the LORD, questioning the prosperity of the wicked and the desolation of the land due to their treachery, despite their outward piety. The LORD answers, challenging Jeremiah to consider how he will manage more severe trials if he is already weary, and warns him of the treachery of his own kin. Following this, the LORD expresses His sorrow over His forsaken heritage, likening it to a lion or a speckled bird, and lamenting how "many pastors" have destroyed His vineyard. He declares that spoilers will come, bringing widespread desolation and fruitless labor. Finally, the LORD pronounces judgment upon the "evil neighbours" who have touched His inheritance, promising to pluck them out, but also offers a future of compassion and restoration if they learn His ways and swear by His name, warning of utter destruction if they refuse.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with Jeremiah's earnest plea to the LORD, acknowledging God's righteousness but questioning the prosperity and happiness of the wicked, who are described as having God's name "near in their mouth, and far from their reins." Jeremiah appeals to God's knowledge of his heart and asks for the wicked to be prepared for slaughter, noting how the land and its creatures suffer due to their iniquity. In response, the LORD challenges Jeremiah, asking how he will contend with "horses" and the "swelling of Jordan" if he is already wearied by "footmen" and the "land of peace," further warning him that even his own brethren and father's house have dealt treacherously with him. Subsequently, the LORD expresses profound lament over His forsaken "house" and "heritage," which He has given into the hand of its enemies. He describes His heritage as a "lion in the forest" crying out against Him, or a "speckled bird" surrounded by hostile birds, inviting beasts to devour it. The LORD condemns "many pastors" (leaders) who have destroyed His "vineyard" and "pleasant portion," turning it into a desolate wilderness because no one takes it to heart. He prophesies that spoilers will come upon the land, bringing the sword of the LORD from one end to the other, ensuring no flesh will have peace. The wicked will sow wheat but reap thorns, laboring in vain due to the fierce anger of the LORD. Finally, the LORD declares His judgment against "evil neighbours" who have touched Israel's inheritance, promising to pluck them out of their land, along with Judah from among them. However, He also offers a future of compassion and return for these nations, provided they diligently learn the ways of His people, swearing by His name as they once swore by Baal. If they embrace His ways, they will be built up in the midst of His people, but if they refuse to obey, the LORD vows to utterly pluck up and destroy that nation.

Core Concepts

  • Prosperity of the WickedJeremiah's initial complaint questions why those who deal treacherously seem to thrive, despite their superficial piety, causing the land to suffer.
  • Divine Challenge and WarningThe LORD challenges Jeremiah to prepare for greater difficulties and reveals that treachery extends even to his own family, testing his resolve.
  • God's Lament over His HeritageThe LORD expresses deep sorrow and a sense of abandonment over His people (Israel/Judah), describing them as a wild beast or a vulnerable bird, and lamenting their destruction by their own leaders.
  • Desolation and FutilityThe land is depicted as desolate and mourning, a "wilderness" due to the actions of wicked "pastors," leading to fruitless labor where people sow wheat but reap thorns.
  • Judgment on Evil NeighboursThe LORD declares His intention to pluck out the surrounding nations who have encroached upon His people's inheritance, signifying divine retribution.
  • Conditional RestorationA promise of future compassion and return is offered to both Judah and the "evil neighbours," contingent upon their learning and obeying the LORD's ways, swearing by His name.
  • Consequences of DisobedienceThe chapter concludes with a clear warning that refusal to obey the LORD's commands will result in the utter destruction of the disobedient nation.