English Standard Version
Jeremiah 12:1
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?
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?
- 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?
- New Living Translation (NLT)Lord, you always give me justice when I bring a case before you. So let me bring you this complaint: Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why are evil people so happy?
Context of Jeremiah 12:1
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? 2You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. 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.
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, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
- Genesis 18:25Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
- Deuteronomy 32:4"The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
- Psalms 51:4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
- Psalms 119:75I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
- Psalms 145:17The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
- Daniel 9:7To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.
- Habakkuk 1:13You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?
- Zephaniah 3:5The Lord within her is righteous; he does no injustice; every morning he shows forth his justice; each dawn he does not fail; but the unjust knows no shame.
- Romans 3:5But if our unrighteousness serves to show the righteousness of God, what shall we say? That God is unrighteous to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)
- Job 13:3But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.
- Isaiah 41:21Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
- Jeremiah 5:28they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
- Job 12:6The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.
- Job 21:7Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
- Psalms 37:1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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