1 O Lord, even if I would argue my case with you,
2 You plant them, and they take root.
3 You know me, O Lord.
4 How long will the land mourn?
5 “If you have raced against others on foot, and they have tired you out,
6 Even your relatives and members of your father’s household betray you.
7 “I have abandoned my nation.
8 My people have turned on me like a lion in the forest.
9 My people are like a colorful bird of prey.
10 Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.
11 They’ve left it a wasteland.
12 Looters swarm all over the bare hills in the desert.
13 My people planted wheat, but they harvested thorns.
14 “This is what I, the Lord, say about all my evil neighbors who take the inheritance that I gave my people Israel: I am going to uproot those neighbors from their lands. I will also uproot the people of Judah from among them.
15 After I’ve uprooted them, I will have compassion on them again. I will return them to their inheritance and to their lands.
16 Suppose they learn carefully the ways of my people. Suppose they take an oath in my name, ‘As the Lord lives …’ as they taught my people to take an oath in ⌞the name of⌟ Baal. Then they will build homes among my people.
17 But suppose they don’t listen. Then I will uproot that nation and destroy it,” declares the Lord.