Jeremiah 12:1

KJV1611 – Modern English

Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead with You; yet let me speak with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are all those happy who deal very treacherously?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ אַ֤ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אוֹתָ֔ךְ מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ צָלֵ֔חָה שָׁל֖וּ כָּל־בֹּ֥גְדֵי בָֽגֶד׃

Transliteration

ṣaddîq you YHWH when I ʾārîb to-you, ʾak mišpāṭîm I-will-dābēr with-you, maddûaʿ derek rešāʿîm ṣālēḥāh šālû all-bōgdê bāged

Grammar Details

• *ṣaddîq*: adjective, masculine singular - righteous
• *YHWH*: divine name - LORD
• *ʾārîb*: verb, Qal imperfect, 1st person singular - I contend/plead
• *ʾak*: adverb - only, yet, nevertheless
• *mišpāṭîm*: noun, masculine plural - judgments/cases
• *dābēr*: verb, Piel imperfect, 1st person singular - speak/plead
• *maddûaʿ*: interrogative adverb - why
• *derek*: noun, masculine singular construct - way/path
• *rešāʿîm*: adjective, masculine plural - wicked ones
• *ṣālēḥāh*: verb, Qal perfect, 3rd feminine singular - prospers
• *šālû*: verb, Qal perfect, 3rd person plural - are at ease/prosperous
• *bōgdê*: verb, Qal participle, masculine plural construct - those betraying
• *bāged*: noun, masculine singular - treachery/betrayal

Word Meanings

• *ʾārîb*: contend/plead/bring a case
• *mišpāṭîm*: judgments/cases/legal matters
• *derek*: way/path/conduct
• *ṣālēḥāh*: prospers/succeeds/is successful
• *šālû*: are at ease/are secure/prosper
• *bōgdê bāged*: treacherous betrayers/faithless traitors

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  You are righteous, LORD, even when I bring my case to you. Yet I want to discuss your judgments: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those who betray others at ease?

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Righteous{H6662} art thou, O Jehovah,{H3068} when I contend{H7378} with thee; yet would I reason{H1696} the cause{H4941} with thee: wherefore doth the way{H1870} of the wicked{H7563} prosper?{H6743} wherefore are all they at ease{H7951} that deal very{H899} treacherously?{H898}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Righteous{H6662} art thou, O LORD{H3068}, when I plead{H7378}{(H8799)} with thee: yet let me talk{H1696}{(H8762)} with thee of thy judgments{H4941}: Wherefore doth the way{H1870} of the wicked{H7563} prosper{H6743}{(H8804)}? wherefore are all they happy{H7951}{(H8804)} that deal very{H899} treacherously{H898}{(H8802)}?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  O Lorde, thou art more rightuous, then that I shulde dispute with the: Neuertheles, let me talke with the in thinges reasonable. How happeneth it, that the waye off the vngodly is so prosperous? and that it goeth so wel with them, which (with out eny shame) offede and lyue in wickednesse?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  O Lorde, if I dispute with thee, thou art righteous: yet let mee talke with thee of thy iudgements: wherefore doeth the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they in wealth that rebelliously transgresse?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  O Lorde thou art more righteous, then that I shoulde dispute with thee: neuerthelesse, let me talke with thee in thynges reasonable. Howe happeneth it that the way of the vngodly is so prosperous? and that it goeth so well with them which without any shame offend and liue in wickednesse,

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Righteous are you, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet would I reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Righteous `art' Thou, O Jehovah, When I plead towards thee, Only, judgments do I speak with Thee, Wherefore did the way of the wicked prosper? At rest have been all treacherous dealers.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  You are in the right, O Lord, when I put my cause before you: still let me take up with you the question of your decisions: why does the evil-doer do well? why are the workers of deceit living in comfort?

• World English Bible (2000)

  You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  LORD, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

Referenced Verses

• Job 12:6 : 6 The tents of robbers prosper, and those who provoke God are secure; into whose hand God brings abundantly.
• Mal 3:15 : 15 And now we call the proud blessed; yes, those who do wickedness are raised up; yes, those who test God go free.
• Ps 37:1 : 1 Do not worry because of evildoers, nor be envious of those who work iniquity.
• Ps 51:4 : 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done this evil in your sight, that you may be justified when you speak and be clear when you judge.
• Ps 92:7 : 7 When the wicked spring up like the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is so they may be destroyed forever.
• Ps 94:3-4 : 3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 4 How long shall they utter and speak arrogant things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
• Ps 37:35 : 35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
• Job 13:3 : 3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
• Job 21:7-9 : 7 Why do the wicked live, become old, yes, grow mighty in power? 8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, nor is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull breeds and does not fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. 11 They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, and rejoice to the sound of the flute. 13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say to God, 'Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.' 15 Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?
• Ezra 9:15 : 15 O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we remain yet as escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before You in our trespasses, for we cannot stand before You because of this.
• Jer 5:11 : 11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, says the LORD.
• Jer 5:27-28 : 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they have become great, and grown rich. 28 They have grown fat, they shine: yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked: they do not judge the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy they do not judge.
• Jer 11:20 : 20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have presented my case to you.
• Dan 9:7 : 7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us belongs confusion of face, as it is this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those near and those far off, through all the countries where You have driven them, because of their trespass which they have trespassed against You.
• Hab 1:4 : 4 Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth, for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
• Hab 1:13-17 : 13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a man more righteous than he? 14 You make men like the fish of the sea, like creeping things that have no ruler over them. 15 They take up all of them with a hook, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet; therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16 Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn incense to their dragnet; because by them their portion is sumptuous and their food plentiful. 17 Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?
• Zeph 3:5 : 5 The just LORD is in the midst of her; he will not do wrong: every morning he brings his judgment to light, he fails not; but the unjust know no shame.
• Hos 6:7 : 7 But like men they have transgressed the covenant: there they have dealt treacherously against me.
• Jer 12:6 : 6 For even your brothers, the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, even though they speak kind words to you.
• Rom 3:5-6 : 5 But if our unrighteousness highlights the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man) 6 Certainly not: for then how will God judge the world?
• Gen 18:25 : 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
• Deut 32:4 : 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
• Ps 73:3-9 : 3 For I was envious of the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no pains in their death; but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride surrounds them as a chain; violence covers them as a garment. 7 Their eyes bulge with abundance; they have more than heart could wish. 8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly of oppression; they speak loftily. 9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here, and waters of a full cup are drained by them. 11 And they say, How does God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High? 12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Surely I have kept my heart pure in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I would offend against the generation of Your children. 16 When I thought to understand this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. 18 Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. 19 How they are brought into desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors. 20 As a dream when one awakes; so, O Lord, when You wake up, You shall despise their image. 21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pierced in my mind. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. 24 You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside You. 26 My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.
• Ps 119:75 : 75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.
• Ps 119:137 : 137 TZADDI. Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
• Ps 145:17 : 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
• Prov 1:32 : 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the prosperity of fools will destroy them.
• Isa 41:21 : 21 Produce your cause, says the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
• Isa 48:8 : 8 Yes, you did not hear; yes, you did not know; yes, from that time your ear was not opened: for I knew you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.