Jeremiah 9:12

10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

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?

13 And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

14 But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which 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

    Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 107:43

    Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 32:29

    O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

    Read in context
  • Psalms 107:34

    A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

    Read in context
  • Revelation 1:3

    Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 29:22–28

    So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 22:8–9

    And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 5:19–20

    And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

    Read in context