The Prosperity of the Wicked

1Just art thou, O Jehovah, for I will strive to thee: surely I will speak judgments with thee: Wherefore did the way of the evil prosper? all they acting faithlessly with treachery were secure?

2Thou didst plant them; they took root; they went on, also they made fruit: thou being near in their mouth, and far off from their reins.

3And thou, Jehovah, knew me: thou wilt see me, and thou didst try my heart with thee: pluck them out as sheep for the slaughter, and consecrate them to the day of slaughter.

4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbage of every field dry up from the evil of those dwelling in it the earth perished, and the birds; for they said, He shall not see our last Part.

God’s Answer to Jeremiah

5If thou didst run with the footmen and they will weary thee, and how wilt thou contend with horses? and in the land of peace thou trustest, and how wilt thou do in the grandeur of Jordan.

6For also thy brethren and the house of thy father, they also acted faithlessly with thee; they also called after thee a fulness: thou shalt not believe in them for they will speak to thee good things.

7I forsook my house, I rejected mine inheritance; I gave the beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

8My inheritance was to me as a lion in the forest; she gave upon me with her voice: for this I hated her.

9The ravenous hyena is my inheritance to me, rushing round about upon her; go ye, gather together all the beasts of the field, set ye upon to eat her.

10Many shepherds destroyed my vineyard, they trod down my portion, they gave the portion of my desire for a desert of desolation.

11Setting her for a desolation, she mourned to me; all the land was set a desolation, for no man put upon his heart.

12They spoiling came upon all the hills of the desert: for the sword of Jehovah consumed from the extremity of the land even to extremity of the land: no peace to all flesh.

13They sowed wheat and they reaped thorns: they were wearied, they shall not profit; and they were ashamed of your gains from the burning of the anger of Jehovah.

A Message for Israel’s Neighbors
(Amos 1:1–15)

14Thus said Jehovah concerning all my evil neighbors, those touching upon the inheritance which I caused my people Israel to inherit: behold me tearing them up from their land, and I will tear up the house of Judah from the midst of them. 15And it was after my tearing them up I will turn back and compassionate them, and cause them to dwell a man to his inheritance, and a man to his land. 16And it was if learning, they shall learn the ways of my people to swear in my name, Jehovah lives; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; and they were built up in the midst of my people. 17And if they will not hear, tearing up and destroying, I tore up that nation, says Jehovah.