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Jeremiah 12:1–6

"Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper?": a lawsuit with God

"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?" The verb "plead" (riv) is the language of a lawsuit: Jeremiah grants that God is in the right and still brings a case. God's answer does not explain: "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?" (12:5). Things will get harder, and his own family has betrayed him (12:6).

Stable text: no manuscript differences in meaning

The family tree

Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.

✓ contains this verse · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives

  • Same line, through lost copies
  • Translation
Hebrew
  1. The words as first spoken or writtenlate 7th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
  2. Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written
  3. Job 21:7 (Masoretic Text)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written
  4. Psalm 73:3 (Masoretic Text)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written
Greek
  1. Greek Jeremiah (library: Giguet's French)Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872Translated from the Old Greek Jeremiah (a shorter edition)
Latin
  1. Latin Vulgate (Clementine)Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592Translated from the Hebrew text Jerome used
English
  1. King James Bible1611Translated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

Every witness, in order

  1. late 7th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

    The words as first spoken or written

    – No copy survives

    No original survives, and Jeremiah circulated in at least two ancient Hebrew editions: a shorter one behind the Old Greek and the longer one preserved as the Masoretic Text. The oldest copies are six fragmentary Qumran manuscripts (2QJer, 4QJer-a to 4QJer-e), from about 200 BC to the 1st century AD.

  2. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

    Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

    Justus quidem tu es, Domine, si disputem tecum: verumtamen justa loquar ad te: Quare via impiorum prosperatur; bene est omnibus qui prævaricantur et inique agunt? Plantasti eos, et radicem miserunt: proficiunt, et faciunt fructum: prope es tu ori eorum, et longe a renibus eorum. Et tu, Domine, nosti me, vidisti me, et probasti cor meum tecum. Congrega eos quasi gregem ad victimam, et sanctifica eos in die occisionis. Usquequo lugebit terra, et herba omnis regionis siccabitur, propter malitiam habitantium in ea? Consumptum est animal, et volucre, quoniam dixerunt: Non videbit novissima nostra. Si cum peditibus currens laborasti, quomodo contendere poteris cum equis? cum autem in terra pacis securus fueris, quid facies in superbia Jordanis? Nam et fratres tui, et domus patris tui, etiam ipsi pugnaverunt adversum te, et clamaverunt post te plena voce: ne credas eis, cum locuti fuerint tibi bona.

    Latin numbering: Jeremiah 12:1–6. Jerome translated Jeremiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).

  3. AD 1008

    Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

    ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    צַדִּ֤יק אַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָרִ֖יב אֵלֶ֑יךָ אַ֤ךְ מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ אֲדַבֵּ֣ר אוֹתָ֔ךְ מַדּ֗וּעַ דֶּ֤רֶךְ רְשָׁעִים֙ צָלֵ֔חָה שָׁל֖וּ כָּל־בֹּ֥גְדֵי בָֽגֶד׃ נְטַעְתָּם֙ גַּם־שֹׁרָ֔שׁוּ יֵלְכ֖וּ גַּם־עָ֣שׂוּ פֶ֑רִי קָר֤וֹב אַתָּה֙ בְּפִיהֶ֔ם וְרָח֖וֹק מִכִּלְיוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃ וְאַתָּ֤ה יְהוָה֙ יְדַעְתָּ֔נִי תִּרְאֵ֕נִי וּבָחַנְתָּ֥ לִבִּ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ הַתִּקֵם֙ כְּצֹ֣אן לְטִבְחָ֔ה וְהַקְדִּשֵׁ֖ם לְי֥וֹם הֲרֵגָֽה׃ עַד־מָתַי֙ תֶּאֱבַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ וְעֵ֥שֶׂב כָּל־הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה יִיבָ֑שׁ מֵרָעַ֣ת יֹֽשְׁבֵי־בָ֗הּ סָפְתָ֤ה בְהֵמוֹת֙ וָע֔וֹף כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ לֹ֥א יִרְאֶ֖ה אֶת־אַחֲרִיתֵֽנוּ׃ כִּ֣י אֶת־רַגְלִ֥ים ׀ רַ֙צְתָּה֙ וַיַּלְא֔וּךָ וְאֵ֥יךְ תְּתַֽחֲרֶ֖ה אֶת־הַסּוּסִ֑ים וּבְאֶ֤רֶץ שָׁלוֹם֙ אַתָּ֣ה בוֹטֵ֔חַ וְאֵ֥יךְ תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה בִּגְא֥וֹן הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃ כִּ֧י גַם־אַחֶ֣יךָ וּבֵית־אָבִ֗יךָ גַּם־הֵ֙מָּה֙ בָּ֣גְדוּ בָ֔ךְ גַּם־הֵ֛מָּה קָרְא֥וּ אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ מָלֵ֑א אַל־תַּאֲמֵ֣ן בָּ֔ם כִּֽי־יְדַבְּר֥וּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ טוֹבֽוֹת׃

    You are in the right, LORD, when I bring a case against you; yet I will speak judgments with you: Why does the way of the wicked succeed? Why are all the faithless at ease? (v. 1)

    Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 12:1–6.

  4. AD 1008

    Job 21:7 (Masoretic Text)

    ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    מַדּ֣וּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם־גָּ֥בְרוּ חָֽיִל׃

    Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?

    The same question, in another book and setting.

  5. AD 1008

    Psalm 73:3 (Masoretic Text)

    ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

    כִּֽי־קִ֭נֵּאתִי בַּֽהוֹלְלִ֑ים שְׁל֖וֹם רְשָׁעִ֣ים אֶרְאֶֽה׃

    For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity (shalom) of the wicked

    The psalmist's version of the complaint.

  6. 1611

    King James Bible

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

    How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

    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. 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. 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. If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.

  7. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

    Greek Jeremiah (library: Giguet's French)

    ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Old Greek Jeremiah (a shorter edition)

    How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

    Seigneur, vous êtes juste; aussi je me défendrai devant vous; je vous demanderai justice. Pourquoi la voie des impies est-elle prospère? pourquoi ceux qui vous ont répudié sont-ils florissants? Vous les avez plantés, et ils ont pris racine; ils ont engendré, et ils ont produit des fruits. Vous êtes près de leur bouche, et loin de leurs reins. Et vous, Seigneur, vous me connaissez, vous avez devant vous éprouvé mon cœur; purifiez-les pour le jour de leur égorgement. Jusques à quand la terre sera-t-elle en deuil avec des pâturages et des champs desséchés par la malice de ceux qui l’habitent? Les oiseaux et le bétail ont été détruits, parce que les hommes ont dit: Dieu ne verra point nos voies. Tes pieds courent, et te voilà énervé; comment feras-tu donc pour combattre des cavaliers et te confier dans une terre de paix? Que feras-tu contre les débordements du Jourdain? Tes frères eux-mêmes et la maison de ton père t’ont méprisé; ils ont eux-mêmes crié contre toi, ils se sont donc unis à ceux qui te poursuivaient par derrière; ne te fie pas à eux, quoiqu’ils te disent de belles paroles.

    Greek (digital file) numbering: Jeremiah 12:1–6. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only), in the Greek book's own order and verse numbering; a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Jeremiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.

What changed, and why

Classification: stable text in the library's witnesses; small Greek differences of wording ("those who reject you" for "those who deal treacherously").

The question of the wicked prospering is shared with Job 21:7, Psalm 37, Psalm 73 and Habakkuk 1:2–4, 13. These are parallel treatments of one problem; the site does not assume literary dependence.

"The swelling (ge'on) of Jordan" (12:5) is the dense thicket along the river, home to lions in antiquity (49:19).

What the evidence shows

  • What the text saysJeremiah 12:1 frames the complaint as a legal case (riv).
  • DisputedGod's reply in 12:5–6 answers the question why the wicked prosper. Most readers find that it redirects rather than answers.
  • Not independently verifiedJeremiah 12:1 borrows from Job or Psalm 73. Shared theme; no demonstrated borrowing in either direction.

Sources

    Related lessons

    • Jeremiah 12: Wherefore Doth the Way of the Wicked Prosper? →"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?" God planted them; they bear fruit; "thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins" (12:1–2). "Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter"; how long will the land mourn? (vv. 3–4). God answers: "If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses?… even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee" (vv. 5–6). Then God laments: "I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies" (vv. 7–13). Last, an unexpected promise to "mine evil neighbours": they will be uprooted, then brought back, and "if they will diligently learn the ways of my people… then shall they be built in the midst of my people" (vv. 14–17).
    • Investigation: Jeremiah's Confessions →Scattered through chapters 11–20 are poems in which Jeremiah speaks not to the people for God but to God about himself. Since the 19th century scholars have called them his "confessions," borrowing Augustine's word for an autobiography addressed to God. They are prayers of a persecuted man: he asks for vengeance, accuses God of failing him like a dry stream, says God enticed and overpowered him, and curses the day he was born. Some get an answer from God; the last gets none. This investigation studies each poem on its own, compares them with Job and the lament psalms, and separates real verbal parallels from claims that one text borrowed from another.