Jeremias 12

1 You are righteous, LORD,

2 You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root.

3 But you, LORD, know me.

4 How long will the land mourn,

5 "If you have run with the footmen,

6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father,

7 "I have forsaken my house.

8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest.

9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey?

10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.

11 They have made it a desolation.

12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness;

13 They have sown wheat,

14 The LORD says, "Concerning all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: Behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.

15 It will happen that after I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them. I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

16 It will happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives;’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the middle of my people.

17 But if they will not hear, then I will pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it," says the LORD.