Jer 9:12 | NET2full | STEP | I said, “ Who is wise enough to understand why this has happened? Who has a word from the Lord that can explain it? Why does the land lie in ruins ? Why is it as scorched as a desert through which no one travels ?”

‏ Jeremiah 9:12

12 I said, ^{▼▼tn The words, “I said” are not in the text. It is not clear that a shift in speaker has taken place. However, the words of the verse are very unlikely to be a continuation of the Lord’s threat. It is generally assumed that these are the words of Jeremiah and that a dialogue is going on between him and the Lord in vv. 9-14. That assumption is accepted here.}
“Who is wise enough to understand why this has happened? ^{▼▼tn Heb “Who is the wise man that he may understand this?”}
Who has a word from the Lord that can explain it? ^{▼▼tn Heb “And [who is the man] to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may explain it?”}
Why does the land lie in ruins?
Why is it as scorched as a desert through which no one travels?”