Jeremiah 12:1
in Jeremiah 12Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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?
KJV
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?
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This verse in Jeremiah 12
Commentary
11 notes on this verseRighteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee,.... The six first verses of this chapter properly belong to the preceding, being of the same argument, and in strict connection with the latter part of it.
This site's exposition
Why does the way of the wicked prosper
on Jeremiah 12:1-4
Jeremiah’s complaint continues with “Why does the way of the wicked prosper”, while the men of Anathoth who seek his life seem to thrive. Verse 2 says of them, “You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts”. Verses 3 and 4 repeat the plea of chapter 11.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
"Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all those who do evil things thrive?" Here the prophet steps out from his usual discourse. On other occasions he brings before God prayers and sorrow about sinners. But it seems here that he is …
(Chapter 12 - Verses 1 onwards) Indeed, you are just, O Lord, if I argue with you (or because I want to satisfy you); however, I will speak to you about judgments. What is it that the way of the wicked prospers? It is well for all who break the law and act unjustly. You have planted them and they have taken root, they grow and bear fruit (or they have borne children and produce offspring). You are near their mouths, but far from their hearts.
"You are righteous, Lord, that I shall make my defense before you. Yet I will speak judgments to you. Why is it that the way of the ungodly prospers? All those who deal treacherously in treacheries have flourished." We still inquire whether God, who has given the Law and the Prophets, is good, seeing that "the way of the ungodly prospers" and he does not punish the ungodly. "All those who deal treacherously in treacheries have flourished." Those very ones who speak against the Creator, who blaspheme him, "have flourished, they have been planted and rooted, they have begotten children and have produced fruit." How much fruit has Marcion produced by begetting children, how much Basilides, how much Valentinus? For this is what is prophesied concerning the ungodly and said in the words "they have begotten children and produced fruit." "You are near to their mouth, but far from their reins": they name the name of Jesus, but they do not have Jesus; for they do not confess him as they ought.
The Reformation2 voices
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?
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
And this is the view which interpreters take of this passage; that is, that he was disturbed with the prosperous condition of the wicked, and expostulated with God, as Habakkuk seems to have done at the beginning of the first chapter; but he appears to me to have something higher in view.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Though sometimes clouds and darkness are round about him, yet justice and judgment are always the habitation of his throne, Ps. xcvii. When we find it hard to understand particular providences we must have recourse to general truths as our first principles, and abide by them; however dark the providence may be, the Lord is righteous; see Ps. lxxiii.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Yet let me talk ... - Rather, yet will I speak with thee on a matter of right. This sense is well given in the margin. The prophet acknowledges the general righteousness of God’s dealings, but cannot reconcile with it the properity of the conspirators of Anathoth This difficulty was often present to the minds of the saints of the Old Testament, see Job 21:7 ff; Ps. 37; Ps. 73. Happy - Rather, secure, tranquil.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
(Ps 51:4). let me talk, &c.--only let me reason the case with Thee: inquire of Thee the causes why such wicked men as these plotters against my life prosper (compare Job 12:6; It is right, when hard thoughts of God's providence suggest themselves, to fortify our minds by justifying God beforehand (as did Jeremiah), even before we hear the reasons of His dealings.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee - The prophet was grieved at the prosperity of the wicked; and he wonders how, consistently with God’s righteousness, vice should often be in affluence, and piety in suffering and poverty. He knows that God is righteous, that every thing is done well; but he wishes to inquire how these apparently unequal and undeserved lots take place. On this subject he wishes to reason with God, that he may receive instruction.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
You are right, O Lord, when I contend with You When I debate with You, I know that you will be right in Your words, but I wish to argue with You so that You will let me know Your way.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
18 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| צַדִּ֤יק | tzadik | [are] righteous | H6662 → | 206 times |
| אַתָּה֙ | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | O Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| כִּ֥י | ki | if | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אָרִ֖יב | ʾariv | I bring a case | H7378 → | 67 times |
| אֵלֶ֑יךָ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אַ֤ךְ | ʾakh | nevertheless | H389 → | 161 times |
| מִשְׁפָּטִים֙ | mishpatim | judgments | H4941 → | 422 times |
| אֲדַבֵּ֣ר | ʾadaber | I will speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אוֹתָ֔ךְ | ʾotakh | with <the> you | H854 → | 929 times |
| מַדּ֗וּעַ | madua' | why? | H4069 → | 72 times |
| דֶּ֤רֶךְ | derekh | [the] way of | H1870 → | 707 times |
| רְשָׁעִים֙ | reshaim | wicked [people] | H7563 → | 263 times |
| צָלֵ֔חָה | tzalechah | does it prosper | H6743 → | 65 times |
| שָׁל֖וּ | shalu | are they at ease? | H7951 → | |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| בֹּ֥גְדֵי | bogedei | [those who] act treacherously of | H898 → | 49 times |
| בָֽגֶד׃ | vaged | treachery | H899 → | 217 times |
צַדִּ֤יק[are] righteous
tzadikH6662 →206 times
אַתָּה֙you
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
יְהוָ֔הO Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
כִּ֥יif
kiH3588 →4482 times
אָרִ֖יבI bring a case
ʾarivH7378 →67 times
אֵלֶ֑יךָto you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 times
אַ֤ךְnevertheless
ʾakhH389 →161 times
מִשְׁפָּטִים֙judgments
mishpatimH4941 →422 times
אֲדַבֵּ֣רI will speak
ʾadaberH1696 →1141 times
אוֹתָ֔ךְwith <the> you
ʾotakhH854 →929 times
מַדּ֗וּעַwhy?
madua'H4069 →72 times
דֶּ֤רֶךְ[the] way of
derekhH1870 →707 times
רְשָׁעִים֙wicked [people]
reshaimH7563 →263 times
צָלֵ֔חָהdoes it prosper
tzalechahH6743 →65 times
שָׁל֖וּare they at ease?
shaluH7951 →
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
בֹּ֥גְדֵי[those who] act treacherously of
bogedeiH898 →49 times
בָֽגֶד׃treachery
vagedH899 →217 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 37:1Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong.
it leads to
- Psalms 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.
- Proverbs 23:17
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Proverbs 24:19
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
- Proverbs 3:31
Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
- Proverbs 24:1
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
- Psalms 37:7
Through
Psalms 92:7that though the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 12:1–2
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 37:38
But the transgressors will all be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off.
- Psalms 73:18–20
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
- Jeremiah 12:1–2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Jeremiah
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON JEREMIAH 12:1; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah and Lamentations; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 10.