Jeremiah 12:1

12:1 Lord, you have always been fair

whenever I have complained to you. ¹ 

However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. ² 

Why are wicked people successful? ³ 

Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

Job 12:6

12:6 But ⁴  the tents of robbers are peaceful,

and those who provoke God are confident ⁵  –

who carry their god in their hands. ⁶ 

Psalms 73:12

73:12 Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, ⁷ 

those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer. ⁸ 

[12:1]  ¹ tn Or “Lord, you are fair when I present my case before you.”

[12:1]  ² tn Heb “judgments” or “matters of justice.” For the nuance of “complain to,” “fair,” “disposition of justice” assumed here, see BDB 936 s.v. רִיב Qal.4 (cf. Judg 21:22); BDB 843 s.v. צַדִּיק 1.d (cf. Ps 7:12; 11:7); BDB 1049 s.v. מִשְׁפָּט 1.f (cf. Isa 26:8; Ps 10:5; Ezek 7:27).

[12:1]  ³ tn Heb “Why does the way [= course of life] of the wicked prosper?”

[12:6]  ⁴ tn The verse gives the other side of the coin now, the fact that the wicked prosper.

[12:6]  ⁵ tn The plural is used to suggest the supreme degree of arrogant confidence (E. Dhorme, Job, 171).

[12:6]  ⁶ sn The line is perhaps best understood as describing one who thinks he is invested with the power of God.

[73:12]  ⁷ tn Heb “Look, these [are] the wicked.”

[73:12]  ⁸ tn Heb “the ones who are always at ease [who] increase wealth.”