1耶利米質疑惡人為何亨通耶和華啊！我跟你爭辯的時候，總是你有理；然而我還要跟你討論有關公正的問題。惡人的道路為甚麼亨通？所有行詭詐的為甚麼都得享安逸？
1You are righteous, Yahweh, when I contend with you; yet I would reason the cause with you: why does the way of the wicked prosper? why are all they at ease who deal very treacherously?
2你栽種了他們，他們也扎了根，並且長大，結出果實；他們的口中有你，心裡卻沒有你（“他們的口中有你，心裡卻沒有你”原文作“你與他們的口很接近，卻離他們的心很遠”）。
2You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; they grow, yes, they bring forth fruit: you are near in their mouth, and far from their heart.
3但耶和華啊！你認識我，了解我，你察驗了我對你的心意。求你把他們拉出來，好像將宰的羊一般；求你把他們分別出來，留待宰殺的日子。
3But you, Yahweh, know me; you see me, and try my heart toward you: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
4這地悲哀，田野的青草都枯乾，要等到幾時呢？由於這地居民的惡行，走獸和飛鳥都滅絕了；因為他們說：“ 神看不見我們的作為（“作為”一詞按照《馬索拉抄本》應作“結局”；現參照《七十士譯本》翻譯）。”
4How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of those who dwell therein, the animals are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter end.
5耶和華說：“如果你與徒步的人同跑，尚且覺得疲倦，怎能跟馬賽跑呢？你在平安穩妥之地，尚且跌倒，在約旦河邊的叢林怎麼辦呢？
5If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? and though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
6因為連你的兄弟、你的父家，都以詭詐待你，連他們也在你後面高聲喊叫。雖然他們對你說好話，你也不可信他們。”
6For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; even they have cried aloud after you: don’t believe them, though they speak beautiful words to you.
7遍地荒涼“我撇下了我的家，丟棄了我的產業；我把我心愛的交在她仇敵的手中。
7I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8我的產業對我，就像樹林中的獅子向我咆哮，因此我恨惡她。
8My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest: she has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her.
9我的產業對我，不就像一隻帶斑點的鷙鳥，其他的鷙鳥都四圍攻擊她？你們去聚集田野各樣的走獸，帶牠們來吃吧！
9Is my heritage to me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her all around? Go, assemble all the animals of the field, bring them to devour.
10許多牧人毀壞了我的葡萄園，踐踏了我的田地；他們使我美好的田地變為荒涼的曠野。
10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11他們使地荒涼，在我面前一片荒涼悲哀；全地荒涼，卻無人關心。”
11They have made it a desolation; it mourns to me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart.
12在曠野一切光禿的高岡上，行毀滅的已經來到了；因為耶和華的刀從地這邊直到地那邊，要吞滅一切；人人都沒有平安。
12Destroyers have come on all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Yahweh devours from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh has peace.
13他們種的是小麥，收的卻是荊棘；雖然筋疲力竭，卻一無所獲。因耶和華的烈怒，他們必為自己的（“自己的”原文作“你們的”）出產羞愧（本句或譯：“你們必為你們的農穫羞愧”）。
13They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and you shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
14警告惡鄰耶和華這樣說：“至於所有邪惡的鄰國，他們侵犯我賜給我子民以色列的產業；看哪！我要把他們從本地拔出來，也要把猶大家從他們中間拔出來。
14Thus says Yahweh against all my evil neighbors, who touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.
15但我把他們拔出來以後，我必再憐憫他們，把他們領回來，各自歸回自己的產業，自己的故鄉。
15It shall happen, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16如果那些鄰近的國家真的學習我子民的道路，指著我的名起誓，說：‘我指著永活的耶和華起誓！’正如他們從前教導我的子民指著巴力起誓一樣，他們就必在我的子民中間被建立起來。
16It shall happen, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Yahweh lives; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.
17他們如果有不聽從的，我就把那國拔出來，把她拔除消滅。”這是耶和華的宣告。
17But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, says Yahweh.