The second of Jeremiah’s seven personal laments touches on God, the wicked, the prophet himself, and the land (12:1–4). Jeremiah uses court language and asks for justice, or right dealing. “Righteous” is a term of relationship describing integrity and uprightness. On what grounds can God prosper evil persons? It is an old question. The wicked discount God by claiming that God will not have final jurisdiction over them. The prophet protests his innocence, a feature of other laments. Moral corruption has ecological effects, death among them (12:4; Hos. 4:1–3).

Jeremiah 12:5–17 is a reply to the questions of verses 1–4. There are two answers. The first is to rebuke Jeremiah, saying essentially, “If such (little) problems upset you, how will you successfully deal with weighty issues?” The Jo…