American Standard Version
Jeremiah 12:1
1Righteous 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?
Jeremiah 12:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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?
- New International Version (NIV)You 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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Righteous 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?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
Context of Jeremiah 12:1
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? 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 heart. 3But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Read all of Jeremiah 12Jeremiah 12:1 word by word
צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ אַ֤ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אוֹתָ֔ךְ מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ צָלֵ֔חָה שָׁל֖וּ כָּל־בֹּ֥גְדֵי בָֽגֶד׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Jeremiah 12:1
- Jeremiah 11:20But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
- Genesis 18:25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
- Deuteronomy 32:4The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he.
- Psalms 51:4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.
- Psalms 119:75I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
- Psalms 145:17Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.
- Daniel 9:7O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
- Habakkuk 1:13Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;
- Zephaniah 3:5Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
- Romans 3:5But if our unrighteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)
- Job 13:3Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
- Isaiah 41:21Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.
- Jeremiah 5:28They are waxed fat, they shine: yea, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they plead not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
- Job 12:6The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
- Job 21:7Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?
- Psalms 37:1Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 12:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee - The prophet was grieved at the prosperity of the wicked; and he wonders how, consistently with God's righteousness, vice should often be in affluence, and piety in suffering and poverty. He knows that God is righteous, that every thing is done well; but he wishes to inquire how these apparently unequal and undeserved lots take place. On this subject he wishes to reason with God, that he may receive…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Yet let me talk - Rather, yet will I speak with thee on a matter of right. This sense is well given in the margin. The prophet acknowledges the general righteousness of God‘s dealings, but cannot reconcile with it the properity of the conspirators of Anathoth This difficulty was often present to the minds of the saints of the Old Testament, see Job 21:7 ff; Psalm 37; Psalm 73. Happy - Rather, secure, tranquil.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Jeremiah complains of the prosperity of the wicked. (Jr 12:1-6) The heavy judgments to come upon the nation. (Jr 12:7-13) Divine mercy to them, and even to the nations around. (Jr 12:14-17) Verses 1-6 When we are most in the dark concerning God's dispensations, we must keep up right thoughts of God, believing that he never did the least wrong to any of his creatures. When we find it hard to understand any of his dealings with us, or others, we must look…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Jeremiah agreed that the Lord was fair in past dealings with him. However, he was confused about why his life was in danger, despite his obedience. Meanwhile, wicked and evil people seemed to be prosperous and happy.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-17He ventures to expostulate with Jehovah as to the prosperity of the wicked, who had plotted against his life (Jr 12:1-4); in reply he is told that he will have worse to endure, and that from his own relatives (Jr 12:5, 6). The heaviest judgments, however, would be inflicted on the faithless people (Jr 12:7-13); and then on the nations co-operating with the Chaldeans against Judah, with, however, a promise of mercy on repentance (Jr 12:14-17). 1. (Psa…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 12:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries