Jeremiah 12:1

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

Lord, when I complain to you, you always do what is right. But I must ask you about your justice. Why do wicked people have success in life? Why do people who cheat their friends live in comfort? 2They are like trees that you have planted. They have strong roots. They produce good fruits. Those people like to talk about you a lot, but they do not really love you. 3But you know everything about me, Lord. You watch me carefully to test me. You know what I am thinking. You should kill those wicked men, as they deserve! Take them away like sheep, to kill them when the time is right.

Jeremiah 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 11:20So I said, ‘Lord Almighty, you judge people in a fair way. You know what people are thinking. You understand how they feel. I trust you to show that I have not done anything that is wrong. So please punish these people. Pay them back for their sins.’
• Genesis 18:25Will you kill them all, the good people and the bad people? Surely you would not do anything like that! You would not punish good people in the same way as bad people. You are the great judge of everyone on the earth. You will surely do what is right!’
• Deuteronomy 32:4He is the strong Rock where we can be safe. Everything that he does is perfect. He only does what is right and fair. We can trust him to be faithful.
• Psalms 51:4It is you that I have done bad things against, only you! I have done things that are evil, as you know. And so you are fair when you speak against me. You are right when you say that I am guilty.
• Psalms 119:75Lord, I know that your rules are good and fair. When you sent trouble to me, it was because you truly loved me.
• Psalms 145:17So the Lord is fair in all that he does. He always shows how much he loves us.
• Daniel 9:7Our Lord, you always do what is right. Today we are very ashamed. The people of Judah, Jerusalem and all Israel have not been faithful to you. You have sent our people away to many countries. Some are near and some are far away. We are all ashamed because we have turned away from you.
• Habakkuk 1:13But you are too holy to accept anything that is evil. You cannot agree with people who do wrong things. So why do you let these wicked people live? Why do you say nothing? They are killing people who are more righteous than themselves.
• Zephaniah 3:5But the Lord is among all the people in the city. He will do what is right. He is always the honest judge. He never fails. But the bad people do not know how to be ashamed.
• Romans 3:5Maybe some people may say, ‘The wrong things that we do show more clearly that God is always right. So perhaps God is wrong to punish us.’
• Job 13:3But I want to speak to the Almighty God. I need to show him that I am right.
• Isaiah 41:21The Lord, Israel's King, says, ‘Come and show me what you can do! Tell me clearly what power you have!
• Jeremiah 5:28They are very fat and healthy. They will never stop doing evil things. They do not help poor people or children who have no family. They do not try to get justice for them.’
• Job 12:6But robbers seem to live in peace. They cause God to be angry but they think that they are safe. They trust their own strength as their god.
• Job 21:7Why do wicked people continue to live for a long time? The older they become, the more power they have.
• Psalms 37:1Do not become upset because of what wicked people do. Do not be jealous of people that do bad things.

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

• God Continued...
• Happiness
• Jeremiah
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Pluck
• Talk
• Covenant, the New
• Crime; Crimes
• Plead
• Idol

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