Christian Standard Bible
Jeremiah 12:1
1You will be righteous, Lord, even if I bring a case against you. Yet, I wish to contend with you: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous live at ease?
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
You will be righteous, Lord, even if I bring a case against you. Yet, I wish to contend with you: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the treacherous live at ease? 2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their conscience. 3As for you, Lord, you know me; you see me. You test whether my heart is with you. Drag the wicked away like sheep to slaughter and set them apart for the day of killing.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Righteousצַדִּיקtsaddîyq · righteousH6662
- thou, O Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- when I pleadרִיבrîyb rûb · to contendH7378
- with thee: yet let me talkדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- Wherefore doth the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- of the wickedרָשָׁעrâshâ‛ · wickedH7563
- prosperצָלֵחַtsâlach tsâlêach · to prosperH6743
- are all they happyשָׁלָהshâlâh shâlav · to prosperH7951
- that deal veryבֶּ֫גֶדbeged · treacheryH899
- treacherouslyבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898
Cross-references for Jeremiah 12:1
- Jeremiah 11:20But, Lord of Armies, who judges righteously, who tests heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have presented my case to you.
- Genesis 18:25You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of the whole earth do what is just?”
- Deuteronomy 32:4The Rock — his work is perfect; all his ways are just. A faithful God, without bias, he is righteous and true.
- Psalms 51:4Against you — you alone — I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.
- Psalms 119:75I know, Lord, that your judgments are just and that you have afflicted me fairly.
- Psalms 145:17The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all his acts.
- Daniel 9:7Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel — those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where you have banished them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward you.
- Habakkuk 1:13Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do you tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are you silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who is more righteous than himself?
- Zephaniah 3:5The righteous Lord is in her; he does no wrong. He applies his justice morning by morning; he does not fail at dawn, yet the one who does wrong knows no shame.
- Romans 3:5But if our unrighteousness highlights God’s righteousness, what are we to say? I am using a human argument: Is God unrighteous to inflict wrath?
- Job 13:3Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
- Isaiah 41:21“Submit your case,” says the Lord. “Present your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
- Jeremiah 5:28They have become fat and sleek. They have also excelled in evil matters. They have not taken up cases, such as the case of the fatherless, so they might prosper, and they have not defended the rights of the needy.
- Job 12:6The tents of robbers are safe, and those who trouble God are secure; God holds them in his hands.
- Job 21:7Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful?
- Psalms 37:1Do not be agitated by evildoers; do not envy those who do wrong.
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
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