Jeremiah 9:12

10 I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, a dirge over the wilderness pasture, for they have been scorched so no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they have gone away.

11 “And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it?

13 And the LORD answered, “It is because they have forsaken My law, which I set before them; they have not walked in it or obeyed My voice.

14 Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts and gone after the Baals, as their fathers taught them.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it?
KJV
Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?
WEB
Who is wise enough to understand this? Who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD has spoken, that he may declare it? Why has the land perished and burned up like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?
ASV
Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and [who is] he to whom the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken, that he may declare it? wherefore is the land perished and burned up like a wilderness, so that none passeth through?
DARBY
Who is a wise man, that he may understand this? and he to whom the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken, that he may declare it? Why is the land perished, burnt up like a wilderness, so that none passeth through?
BLB
Who [is] the wise man that he may understand this? And to whom has the mouth of YHWH spoken, that he may declare it? Because of what has the land perished [and] burned up like a wilderness, without one passing through?
ÅB
Den mann som er vis, han skjønne dette, og den som Herrens munn har talt til, han forkynne det: Hvorfor er landet gått til grunne? Hvorfor er det brent opp som ørkenen, så det ikke er noen som ferdes der?
OTB
Hvem er vis nok til å forstå dette? Hvem har blitt instruert av Herren og kan erklære det? Hvorfor har landet blitt ødelagt og lagt øde som en ørken som ingen kan krysse?
B1930
Den mann som er vis, han skjønne dette, og den som Herrens munn har talt til, han forkynne det: Hvorfor er landet gått til grunne? Hvorfor er det opbrent som ørkenen, så det ikke er nogen som ferdes der?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Hosea 14:9

    Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 107:43

    Let him who is wise pay heed to these things and consider the loving devotion of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 32:29

    If only they were wise, they would understand it; they would comprehend their fate.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 107:34

    and fruitful land into fields of salt, because of the wickedness of its dwellers.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 1:3

    Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 29:22–28

    Then the generation to come—your sons who follow you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land—will see the plagues of the land and the sicknesses the LORD has inflicted on it.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:8–9

    And many nations will pass by this city and ask one another, ‘Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?’

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 5:19–20

    And when the people ask, ‘For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ You are to tell them, ‘Just as you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve foreigners in a land that is not your own.’”

    Read in context