12:1 Tzaddik are you, O ADONAI (יהוה), when I plead with you: yet let me talk with you of [thy] judgments: Wherefore does the derek of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
12:2 You have planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
12:3 But You, O ADONAI (יהוה), knows me: you have seen me, and tried mine heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
12:4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
12:5 If You have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how canst you contend with horses? and [if] in the land of shalom, [wherein] you trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how will You do in the swelling of Yarden?
12:6 For even your brethren, and beit your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; yea, they have called a multitude after you: believe them not, though they speak fair words to you.
12:7 I have forsaken My house, I have left My heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of My soul into the hand of her enemies.
12:8 Mine heritage is to me as a lion in the forest; it cries out against Me: therefore have I hated it.
12:9 Mine heritage [is] to me [as] a speckled bird, the birds round about [are] against her; come you, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
12:10 Many rulers (ro'im) have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
12:11 They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourns before Me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays [it] to heart.
12:12 The spoilers are come upon all shephi (high places) through the wilderness: for the sword of ADONAI (יהוה) shall devour from the [one] end of the land even to the [other] end of the land: no flesh shall have shalom.
12:13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of ADONAI (יהוה).
12:14 Thus said ADONAI (יהוה) against all My evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused My people Yisra'el to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out beit Yehudah from among them.
12:15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
12:16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the darkhei (ways) of My people, to swear by My name, ADONAI (יהוה) lives; as they taught My people to swear by ba'al; then shall they be built in the midst of My people.
12:17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, said ADONAI (יהוה).