📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 12 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Jeremiah 12:1 RRighteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me Ttalk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
Jeremiah 12:2 Thou Rhast planted them, yea, they have taken root: Tthey grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
Jeremiah 12:3 But thou, O LORD, Rknowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart Ttoward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
Jeremiah 12:4 How Rlong 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.
Jeremiah 12:5 If Rthou 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?
Jeremiah 12:6 For even Rthy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, Tthey have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak Tfair words unto thee.
Jeremiah 12:7 I Rhave forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given Tthe dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
Jeremiah 12:8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it RTcrieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
Jeremiah 12:9 Mine heritage is unto me as a Tspeckled bird, Rthe birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, Tcome to devour.
Jeremiah 12:10 Many Rpastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my Tpleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Jeremiah 12:11 They have Rmade it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
Jeremiah 12:12 The Rspoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.
Jeremiah 12:13 They have Rsown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and Tthey shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:14 Thus saith the LORD Ragainst all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
Jeremiah 12:15 And it shall come to pass, Rafter that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
Jeremiah 12:16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by Rmy name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
Jeremiah 12:17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly Rpluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 12:1–6 — Why do the wicked prosper?
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jeremiah affirms God’s righteousness while questioning the ease of treacherous people. The reply prepares him for harder trials and warns that even close relatives may betray him.
Key Truth: Bring hard questions honestly before God.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet …” (Jeremiah 12:1)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “How ____ shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field …” (Jeremiah 12:4)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:4 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For even thy brethren, and the house of thy ____ , even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they …” (Jeremiah 12:6)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 12:7–12 — The beloved inheritance is devastated
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Lord describes his forsaken heritage through lion, bird, and vineyard images. Ruin spreads across a land that no one has taken to heart, and peace disappears.
Key Truth: Take the suffering of the land and people to heart.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my ____ into the hand of her enemies.” (Jeremiah 12:7)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:7 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “Many ____ have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under …” (Jeremiah 12:10)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:10 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… the other end of the land: no flesh shall have ____ .” (Jeremiah 12:12)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Jeremiah 12:13–17 — Compassion after uprooting
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Failed harvest illustrates judgment, but the Lord promises compassion and return after uprooting. Neighboring nations may be established among his people if they learn his ways; refusal brings loss.
Key Truth: Answer restored opportunity with willing obedience.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “… shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce ____ of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 12:13)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:13 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “And it shall ____ to pass, after that I have plucked them out I …” (Jeremiah 12:15)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:15 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “But if they will not ____ , I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, …” (Jeremiah 12:17)
Find it in Jeremiah 12:17 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 73:3 — The psalm also wrestles with the prosperity of the wicked.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What difficult question could you bring to God without concealing it?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does Jeremiah frame his question about the wicked’s prosperity?
2. What does the comparison of footmen and horses prepare Jeremiah for?
3. Why must fair words from relatives be treated cautiously here?
4. What failure accompanies the desolated land?
5. What condition accompanies neighbouring nations being built among God’s people?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
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