2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.
2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow,
2 You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart.
2 You planted them and they put down roots. They flourished and produced fruit. They talk as if they're old friends with you, but they couldn't care less about you.
2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.
2 You have planted them, and they have taken root and prospered. Your name is on their lips, but you are far from their hearts.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 12:2
Commentary on Jeremiah 12:1-6
(Read Jeremiah 12:1-6)
When we are most in the dark concerning God's dispensations, we must keep up right thoughts of God, believing that he never did the least wrong to any of his creatures. When we find it hard to understand any of his dealings with us, or others, we must look to general truths as our first principles, and abide by them: the Lord is righteous. The God with whom we have to do, knows how our hearts are toward him. He knows both the guile of the hypocrite and the sincerity of the upright. Divine judgments would pull the wicked out of their pasture as sheep for the slaughter. This fruitful land was turned into barrenness for the wickedness of those that dwelt therein. The Lord reproved the prophet. The opposition of the men of Anathoth was not so formidable as what he must expect from the rulers of Judah. Our grief that there should be so much evil is often mixed with peevishness on account of the trials it occasions us. And in this our favoured day, and under our trifling difficulties, let us consider how we should behave, if called to sufferings like those of saints in former ages.