Jeremiah 12:2

Justice Doubt Faith

¹ Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

³ But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.
KJV: Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
WEB: 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.
ASV: Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
DARBY: Thou hast planted them, they also have taken root: they advance, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, but far from their reins.
BLB: You plant them, and they have taken root; they grow and they bear fruit; You [are] near, in their mouth and far from their kidneys.

ÅB: Du har plantet dem, og de har slått rot; de vokser opp og bærer frukt; nær er du i deres munn, men langt borte fra deres nyrer.
OTB: Du har plantet dem, og de har slått rot; de vokser og bærer frukt. Du er nær deres lepper, men langt fra deres hjerter.
B1930: Du har plantet dem, og de har slått rot; de vokser op og bærer frukt; nær er du i deres munn, men langt borte fra deres nyrer.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
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Titus 1:16
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Read in context
Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Read in context
Jeremiah 11:17
For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
Read in context
Jeremiah 45:4
Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
Read in context
Ezekiel 17:5–10
He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
Read in context
Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Read in context
Ezekiel 19:10–13
Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
Read in context