1 You are righteous, Yahweh,
when I contend with you;
yet I would like to plead a case with you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why are they all at ease who deal very treacherously?
2 You have planted them. Yes, they have taken root.
They grow. Yes, they produce fruit.
You are near in their mouth,
and far from their heart.
3 But you, Yahweh, know me.
You see me, and test my heart toward you.
Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter,
and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4 How long will the land mourn,
and the herbs of the whole country wither?
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell therein,
the animals and birds are consumed;
because they said,
"He won’t see our latter end."
5 "If you have run with the footmen,
and they have wearied you,
then how can you contend with horses?
Though in a land of peace you are secure,
yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
6 For even your brothers, and the house of your father,
even they have dealt treacherously with you!
Even they have cried aloud after you!
Don’t believe them,
though they speak beautiful words to you.
7 "I have forsaken my house.
I have cast off my heritage.
I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest.
She has uttered her voice against me.
Therefore I have hated her.
9 Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey?
Are the birds of prey against her all around?
Go, assemble all the animals of the field.
Bring them to devour.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.
They have trodden my portion under foot.
They have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it a desolation.
It mourns to me, being desolate.
The whole land is made desolate,
because no one cares.
12 Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness;
for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land.
No flesh has peace.
13 They have sown wheat,
and have reaped thorns.
They have exhausted themselves,
and profit nothing.
You will be ashamed of your fruits,
because of Yahweh’s fierce anger."
14 Yahweh 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 Yahweh 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 Yahweh.
1 JUSTO eres tú, oh Jehová, aunque yo contigo dispute: hablaré empero juicios contigo. ¿Por qué es prosperado el camino de los impíos, y tienen bien todos los que se portan deslealmente?
2 Plantástelos, y echaron raíces; progresaron, é hicieron fruto; cercano estás tú en sus bocas, mas lejos de sus riñones.
3 Tu empero, oh Jehová, me conoces; vísteme, y probaste mi corazón para contigo: arráncalos como á ovejas para el degolladero, y señálalos para el día de la matanza.
4 ¿Hasta cuándo estará desierta la tierra, y marchita la hierba de todo el campo? Por la maldad de los que en ella moran, faltaron los ganados, y las aves; porque dijeron: No verá él nuestras postrimerías.
5 Si corriste con los de á pié, y te cansaron, ¿cómo contenderás con los caballos? Y si en la tierra de paz estabas quieto, ¿cómo harás en la hinchazón del Jordán?
6 Porque aun tus hermanos y la casa de tu padre, aun ellos se levantaron contra ti, aun ellos dieron voces en pos de ti. No los creas, cuando bien te hablaren.
7 He dejado mi casa, desamparé mi heredad, entregado he lo que amaba mi alma en manos de sus enemigos.
8 Fué para mí mi heredad como león en breña: contra mí dió su voz; por tanto la aborrecí.
9 ¿Esme mi heredad ave de muchos colores? ¿no están contra ella aves en derredor? Venid, reuníos, vosotras todas las bestias del campo, venid á devorarla.
10 Muchos pastores han destruído mi viña, hollaron mi heredad, tornaron en desierto y soledad mi heredad preciosa.
11 Fué puesta en asolamiento, y lloró sobre mí, asolada: fué asolada toda la tierra, porque no hubo hombre que mirase.
12 Sobre todos los lugares altos del desierto vinieron disipadores: porque la espada de Jehová devorará desde el un extremo de la tierra hasta el otro extremo: no habrá paz para ninguna carne.
13 Sembraron trigo, y segarán espinas; tuvieron la heredad, mas no aprovecharon nada: se avergonzarán de vuestros frutos, á causa de la ardiente ira de Jehová.
14 Así dijo Jehová contra todos mis malos vecinos, que tocan la heredad que hice poseer á mi pueblo Israel: He aquí que yo los arrancaré de su tierra, y arrancaré de en medio de ellos la casa de Judá.
15 Y será que, después que los hubiere arrancado, tornaré y tendré misericordia de ellos, y harélos volver cada uno á su heredad, y cada cual á su tierra.
16 Y será que, si cuidadosamente aprendieren los caminos de mi pueblo, para jurar en mi nombre, diciendo, Vive Jehová, así como enseñaron á mi pueblo á jurar por Baal; ellos serán prosperados en medio de mi pueblo.
17 Mas si no oyeren, arrancaré á la tal gente, sacándola de raíz, y destruyendo, dice Jehová.