God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 12:1
1O Lord, even if I would argue my case with you, you would always be right. Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice. Why do wicked people succeed? Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet?
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
O Lord, even if I would argue my case with you, you would always be right. Yet, I want to talk to you about your justice. Why do wicked people succeed? Why do treacherous people have peace and quiet? 2You plant them, and they take root. They grow, and they produce fruit. They speak well of you with their lips, but their hearts are far from you. 3You know me, O Lord. You see me and test my devotion to you. Drag them away like sheep to be slaughtered. 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
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 11:20O Lord of Armies, you judge fairly and test motives and thoughts. I want to see you take revenge on them, because I’ve brought my case to you.
- Genesis 18:25It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
- Deuteronomy 32:4He is a rock. What he does is perfect. All his ways are fair. He is a faithful God, who does no wrong. He is honorable and reliable.
- Psalms 51:4I have sinned against you, especially you. I have done what you consider evil. So you hand down justice when you speak, and you are blameless when you judge.
- Psalms 119:75I know that your regulations are fair, O Lord, and that you were right to make me suffer.
- Psalms 145:17The Lord is fair in all his ways and faithful in everything he does.
- Daniel 9:7You, Lord, are righteous. But we—the men of Judah, the citizens of Jerusalem, and all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far—are still ashamed because we have been unfaithful to you.
- Habakkuk 1:13Your eyes are too pure to look at evil. You can’t watch wickedness. Why do you keep watching treacherous people? Why are you silent when wicked people swallow those who are more righteous than they are?
- Zephaniah 3:5The righteous Lord is in that city. He does no wrong. He brings his judgment to light every morning. He does not fail. But those who are perverted are shameless.
- Romans 3:5But if what we do wrong shows that God is fair, what should we say? Is God unfair when he vents his anger on us? (I’m arguing the way humans would.)
- Job 13:3However, I want to speak to the Almighty, and I wish to argue my case in front of God.
- Isaiah 41:21“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forward your best arguments,” says Jacob’s king.
- Jeremiah 5:28They grow big and fat. Their evil deeds have no limits. They have no respect for the rights of others. They have no respect for the rights of orphans. But they still prosper. They don’t defend the rights of the poor.
- Job 12:6⌞But⌟ robbers’ tents are prosperous, and there is security for those who provoke God, for those whose god is their power.
- Job 21:7“Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, and even become more powerful?
- Psalms 37:1Do not be preoccupied with evildoers. Do not envy those who do wicked 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
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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