Jeremiah 12

“Righteous art thou, O LORD , when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But thou, O LORD , knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include slaughter, heart, knowest. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beloved, dearly, enemies. Its relationship to verses 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.” Naming Mine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a…” Naming Many keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man…” The line’s distinctive content terms include desolate, heart, land. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include destroy, LORD, nation. Its relationship to verses 16 shows what work it does in this passage.