1 ¶ When I disagree with you, O LORD, you are right: yet let me talk with you about justice: Why does the way of the wicked bring prosperity? why do all those who deal treacherously live comfortably?

2 You have planted them, and they have taken root: they grow, and produce fruit: you are always on their lips, but far from their hearts.

3 But you know me, O LORD: you have seen me, and tested my attitude toward you: drag them out like sheep to be slaughtered, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

4 How long must the ground mourn, and the plants in every field wither, because of the wickedness of those who live there? the animals and birds are gone; because they said, He cannot see what our end will be.

5 If you have run a race with men on foot, and they have worn you out, then how can you compete with horses? and if you are not secure in a land of peace, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan?

6 For even your brothers, and your father’s family have dealt treacherously with you; yea, they have yelled at you: do not trust them, even if they speak kind words to you.

7 ¶ I have forsaken my house, I have given up my heritage; I have abandoned those I love into the hand of their enemies.

8 My nation has acted toward me like a lion in the forest; she roars against me: therefore I detest her.

9 My heritage is like a speckled bird, attacked by other birds on every side; go and gather all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour it.

10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled my portion under foot, and made the place I delighted in a desolate wilderness.

11 They have made it desolate, and it mourns in desolation before me; the entire land is desolate, but no one takes it to heart.

12 The destroyers have come over all the barren hills in the desert: for the sword of the LORD will destroy from the one end of the land to the other end of the land: no one will have peace.

13 They have sown wheat, but will reap thorns: they work themselves sick, but will gain nothing: and they will be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

14 ¶ This is what the LORD says concerning all my evil neighbors, who attack the inheritance that I have given to my people Israel; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck the house of Judah out from among them.

15 And it will come to pass, that after I have plucked them out I will have compassion on them once again, and will return each man to his heritage, and to his land.

16 And it will come to pass, that if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, and swear by my name, As the LORD lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then they will be allowed to live among my people.

17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly uproot and destroy that nation, says the LORD.