1Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? (Ezr 9:15; Job 12:6; Job 21:7; Ps 37:1; Ps 37:7; Ps 51:4; Ps 73:3; Ps 92:7; Isa 21:2; La 1:18; Da 9:7; Hab 1:13; Mal 3:15)2You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. (Isa 29:13)3But you, O Lord, know me; you see me, and test my heart toward you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter. (Ps 17:3; Ps 139:1; Jer 15:15; Jas 5:5; 2Pe 2:12)4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? For the evil of those who dwell in it the beasts and the birds are swept away, because they said, “He will not see our latter end.” (Ps 107:34; Jer 4:25; Jer 7:20; Jer 9:10; Jer 12:11; Jer 23:10; Ho 4:3; Ro 8:22)
The Lord Answers Jeremiah
5“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? (Jos 3:15; Jer 49:19; Jer 50:44; Zec 11:3)6For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you.” (Pr 26:25; Jer 9:4; Jer 11:19; Jer 11:21; Jer 12:1)7“I have forsaken my house; I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my soul into the hands of her enemies. (Isa 19:25; Jer 11:15)8My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me; therefore I hate her. (Jer 12:7)9Is my heritage to me like a hyena’s lair? Are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. (Isa 46:11; Isa 56:9; Jer 7:33; Jer 12:7; Eze 39:17; Re 19:17)10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled down my portion; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. (Isa 63:18)11They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no man lays it to heart. (Isa 42:25; Jer 12:4)12Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the Lord devours from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace.13They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their[1] harvests because of the fierce anger of the Lord.” (Le 26:16; De 28:38; Isa 55:2; Jer 4:8; Jer 4:26; Jer 25:37; Jer 30:24; Jer 49:37; Jer 51:45; La 1:12; La 4:11; Mic 6:15; Hab 2:13; Hag 1:6)14Thus says the Lord concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: “Behold, I will pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them. (Ps 137:7; Jer 3:18; Zec 2:8)15And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again each to his heritage and each to his land. (Jer 48:47; Jer 49:6)16And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. (Jer 4:2; Jer 24:6; 1Pe 2:5)17But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the Lord.” (Isa 60:12)
1You are always righteous, Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?2You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.3Yet you know me, Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!4How long will the land lie parched and the grass in every field be withered? Because those who live in it are wicked, the animals and birds have perished. Moreover, the people are saying, ‘He will not see what happens to us.’
God’s answer
5‘If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble[1] in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by[2] the Jordan?6Your relatives, members of your own family – even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.7‘I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies.8My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her.9Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour.10Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland.11It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no-one who cares.12Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the Lord will devour from one end of the land to the other; no-one will be safe.13They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. They will bear the shame of their harvest because of the Lord’s fierce anger.’14This is what the Lord says: ‘As for all my wicked neighbours who seize the inheritance I gave to my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the people of Judah from among them.15But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to their own inheritance and their own country.16And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, “As surely as the Lord lives” – even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal – then they will be established among my people.17But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,’ declares the Lord.
1LORD, when I bring a matter to you, you always do what is right. But now I would like to speak with you about whether you are being fair. Why are sinful people successful? Why do those who can’t be trusted have an easy life?2You have planted them. Their roots are deep in the ground. They grow and produce fruit. They honour you by what they say. But their hearts are far away from you.3LORD, you know me and see me. You test my thoughts about you. Drag those people off like sheep to be killed! Set them apart for the day of their death!4How long will the land be thirsty for water? How long will the grass in every field be dry? The people who live in the land are evil. So the animals and birds have died. And that’s not all. The people are saying, ‘The LORD won’t see what happens to us.’
The Lord answers Jeremiah
5The LORD says, ‘Suppose you have raced against people. And suppose they have worn you out. Then how would you be able to race against horses? Suppose you feel safe only in open country. Then how would you get along in the bushes near the River Jordan?6Even your relatives have turned against you. They are members of your own family. They have shouted loudly at you. They might say nice things about you. But do not trust them.7‘I will turn my back on my people. I will desert my land. I love the people of Judah. In spite of that, I will hand them over to their enemies.8My land has become to me like a lion in the forest. It roars at me. So I hate it.9My own land has become like a spotted hawk. And other hawks surround it and attack it. Come, all you wild animals! Gather together! Come together to eat up my land.10Many shepherds will destroy my vineyard. They will walk all over it. They will turn my pleasant vineyard into a dry and empty land.11My vineyard will become a desert. It will be dry and empty in my sight. The whole land will be completely destroyed. And no one even cares.12Many will come to destroy it. They will gather on the bare hilltops in the desert. I will use them as my sword to destroy my people. They will kill them from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe.13People will plant wheat. But all they will gather is thorns. They will wear themselves out. But they will not have anything to show for it. I am very angry with them. So they will be ashamed of the crop they gather.’14Here is what the LORD says. ‘All my evil neighbours have taken over the land I gave my people Israel. So I will pull them up by their roots from the lands they live in. And I will pull up the roots of the people of Judah from among them.15But after I pull up those nations, I will give my tender love to them again. I will bring all of them back to their own lands. I will take all of them back to their own countries.16Suppose those nations learn to follow the practices of my people. And they make their promises in my name. When they promise, they say, “You can be sure that the LORD is alive.” They do this just as they once taught my people to make promises in Baal’s name. Then I will give them a place among my people.17But what if one of those nations does not listen? Then you can be sure of this. I will pull it up by the roots and destroy it,’ announces the LORD.
Jeremiah 12
King James Version
1Righteous 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.7I 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.14Thus 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.
Jeremiah 12
Einheitsübersetzung 2016
from Katholisches Bibelwerk1Du bleibst im Recht, HERR, auch wenn ich mit dir streite; / dennoch muss ich mit dir rechten.
Warum haben die Frevler Erfolg, / weshalb können alle Abtrünnigen sorglos sein? (Job 21:7; Ps 73:3)2Du hast sie eingepflanzt und sie schlagen Wurzel, / sie wachsen heran und bringen auch Frucht.
Nahe bist du ihrem Mund, / aber fern von ihrem Inneren.3Du jedoch, HERR, kennst und siehst mich; / du hast mein Herz erprobt, / ob es bei dir ist.
Raff sie weg wie Schafe zum Schlachten, / sondere sie aus für den Tag des Mordens!4Wie lange noch soll das Land vertrocknen, / das Grün auf allen Feldern verdorren?
Wegen der Bosheit seiner Bewohner schwinden / Vieh und Vögel dahin, / denn sie sagen: Er sieht unsre Zukunft nicht. -5Wenn schon der Wettlauf mit Fußgängern dich ermüdet, / wie willst du mit Pferden um die Wette laufen?
Wenn du nur im friedlichen Land dich sicher fühlst, / wie wirst du dich verhalten im Dickicht des Jordan?6Selbst deine Brüder und das Haus deines Vaters handeln treulos an dir; / auch sie schreien laut hinter dir her.
Trau ihnen nicht, / selbst wenn sie freundlich mit dir reden! (Jer 9:3)
Klage Gottes über sein Land und die Anklage der Hirten
7Ich verlasse mein Haus, / ich verstoße mein Erbteil.
Meinen Herzensliebling gebe ich preis / in die Hand seiner Feinde.8Mein Erbteil wandte sich gegen mich / wie ein Löwe im Wald.
Es erhob gegen mich seine Stimme; / deshalb bin ich ihm feind.9Ist mir mein Erbteil zur Höhle einer Hyäne geworden, / dass Raubvögel es umlagern?
Auf, sammelt euch, alle Tiere des Feldes, / kommt zum Fraß! (Isa 56:9)10Viele Hirten / haben meinen Weinberg verwüstet,
mein Feld zertreten, / mein prächtiges Feld zur öden Wüste gemacht.11Man hat es in dürres Ödland verwandelt, / verwüstet trauert es vor mir.
Das ganze Land ist verödet, / doch keiner nimmt sich das zu Herzen.12Über alle Hügel der Steppe / drangen Verderber ein;
denn ein Schwert frisst für den HERRN von einem Ende des Landes zum andern Ende des Landes. / Es gibt keinen Frieden für alles Fleisch.13Sie haben Weizen gesät und Dornen geerntet, / sie haben sich abgemüht, es hat ihnen nichts genützt.
Werdet beschämt von euren Erträgen / wegen des glühenden Zornes des HERRN!
Gericht und Heil über die Nachbarvölker Israels
14So spricht der HERR über alle meine bösen Nachbarn, die das Erbteil antasten, das ich meinem Volk Israel zum Erbe gegeben habe: Siehe, ich reiße sie von ihrem Boden aus; doch auch das Haus Juda reiße ich aus ihrer Mitte.15Und es wird sein: Nachdem ich sie ausgerissen habe, will ich umkehren und mich ihrer erbarmen und ich werde sie zurückbringen, einen jeden in sein Erbteil und jeden in seine Heimat.16Und es wird sein: Wenn sie wirklich die Wege meines Volkes lernen, sodass sie bei meinem Namen schwören: So wahr der HERR lebt!, wie sie vorher mein Volk gelehrt hatten, beim Baal zu schwören, dann sollen sie inmitten meines Volkes wieder aufgebaut werden. (Jer 4:2)17Gehorchen sie jedoch nicht, so werde ich dieses Volk völlig ausreißen und vernichten - Spruch des HERRN.