Consider! It is planted, but will it prosper? Will it not wither completely when the east wind blows on it? Will it not wither in the soil where it sprouted?’”

How precious and fair! ¹  Grain will make the young men flourish and new wine the young women.

“‘Say to them: This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘Will it prosper? Will he not rip out its roots and cause its fruit to rot ¹  and wither? All its foliage ²  will wither. No strong arm or large army will be needed to pull it out by its roots. ³ 

He is a well-watered plant ¹  in ²  the sun, its shoots spread ³  over its garden. ⁴ 

I, the Lord, once called ¹  you a thriving olive tree, one that produced beautiful fruit. But I will set you ²  on fire, fire that will blaze with a mighty roar. ³  Then all your branches will be good for nothing. ⁴ 

When the wicked increase, ¹  transgression increases, but the righteous will see ²  their downfall.

They will sprout up like a tree in the grass, ¹  like poplars beside channels of water.

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?

In the fourth generation ¹  your descendants ²  will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.” ³ 

Can the papyrus plant grow tall ¹  where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish ²  without water?

Their young grow strong, and grow up in the open; ¹  they go off, and do not return to them.

I have seen ruthless evil men ¹  growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil. ² 

The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants ¹  will live securely in your presence.” ² 

The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous ¹  will flourish like a green leaf. ² 

A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools abhor ¹  turning away from evil.

When the wicked gain control, ¹  people ²  hide themselves, ³  but when they perish, ⁴  the righteous increase.

When the righteous become numerous, ¹  the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. ² 

I made you plentiful like sprouts in a field; you grew tall and came of age so that you could wear jewelry. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, but you were still naked and bare.

All of the thriving people ¹  of the earth will join the celebration and worship; ²  all those who are descending into the grave ³  will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives. ⁴ 

But I ¹  am like a flourishing ²  olive tree in the house of God; I continually ³  trust in God’s loyal love.