| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 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? | 1Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless 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. | 2You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts. |
| 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. | 3But You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my heart toward You. Drag away the wicked like sheep to the slaughter and set them apart for the day of carnage. |
| 4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field wither? Because of the evil of its residents, animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, "He cannot see what our end will be." | 4How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.” |
| 5If you have raced with runners and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, what will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? | 5“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in a peaceful land, how will you do in the thickets of the Jordan? |
| 6Even your brothers--your own father's household-- even they were treacherous to you; even they have cried out loudly after you. Do not have confidence in them, though they speak well of you. | 6Even your brothers—your own father’s household—even they have betrayed you; even they have cried aloud against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you. |
| 7I have abandoned My house; I have deserted My inheritance. I have given the love of My life into the hands of her enemies. | 7I have forsaken My house; I have abandoned My inheritance. I have given the love of My life into the hands of her enemies. |
| 8My inheritance has acted toward Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me. Therefore, I hate her. | 8My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me; therefore I hate her. |
| 9Is My inheritance like a hyena to Me? Are birds of prey circling her? Go, gather all the wild animals; bring them to devour her. | 9Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey with other birds of prey circling against her? Go, gather all the beasts of the field; bring them to devour her. |
| 10Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of land. They have turned My desirable plot into a desolate wasteland. | 10Many shepherds have destroyed My vineyard; they have trampled My plot of ground. They have turned My pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. |
| 11They have made it a desolation. It mourns, desolate, before Me. All the land is desolate, but no one takes it to heart. | 11They have made it a desolation; desolate before Me, it mourns. All the land is laid waste, but no man takes it to heart. |
| 12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the LORD has a sword that devours from one end of the earth to the other. No one has peace. | 12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace. |
| 13They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves but have no profit. Be put to shame by your harvests because of the LORD's burning anger. | 13They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail. Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.” |
| 14This is what the LORD says: "Concerning all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people, Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from them. | 14This is what the LORD says: “As for all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them. |
| 15After I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land. | 15But after I have uprooted them, I will once again have compassion on them and return each one to his inheritance and to his land. |
| 16If they will diligently learn the ways of My people--to swear by My name, 'As Yahweh lives,' just as they taught My people to swear by Baal--they will be built up among My people. | 16And if they will diligently learn the ways of My people and swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—just as they once taught My people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among My people. |
| 17However, if they will not obey, then I will uproot and destroy that nation." This is the LORD's declaration. | 17But if they will not obey, then I will uproot that nation; I will uproot it and destroy it, declares the LORD.” |
|
