Jeremiah 2:35

2:35 you say, ‘I have not done anything wrong,

so the Lord cannot really be angry with me any more.’

But, watch out! ¹  I will bring down judgment on you

because you say, ‘I have not committed any sin.’

Jeremiah 12:1

12:1 Lord, you have always been fair

whenever I have complained to you. ² 

However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. ³ 

Why are wicked people successful? ⁴ 

Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?

Jeremiah 30:14

30:14 All your allies have abandoned you. ⁵ 

They no longer have any concern for you.

For I have attacked you like an enemy would.

I have chastened you cruelly.

For your wickedness is so great

and your sin is so much. ⁶ 

[2:35]  ¹ tn This is an attempt to render the Hebrew particle often translated “behold” (הִנֵּה, hinneh) in a meaningful way in this context. See further the translator’s note on the word “really” in 1:6.

[12:1]  ² tn Or “Lord, you are fair when I present my case before you.”

[12:1]  ³ 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]  ⁴ tn Heb “Why does the way [= course of life] of the wicked prosper?”

[30:14]  ³ tn Heb “forgotten you.”

[30:14]  ⁴ tn Heb “attacked you like…with the chastening of a cruel one because of the greatness of your iniquity [and because] your sins are many.” The sentence has been broken down to conform to contemporary English style and better poetic scansion.