Albert Barnes Commentary Jeremiah 12:4

"How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter end." — Jeremiah 12:4 (ASV)

The Hebrew divides this verse differently. “How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of the whole field wither? Because of the wickedness of them that dwell therein cattle and fowl have ceased to be: for he will not see, say they, our latter end.” The people mock the prophet, saying, “In spite of all his threats, we will outlive him.”

Jeremiah complained that at a time of great general misery, powerful men thrived on the ruin of others: even the innocent cattle and fowl suffered with the rest. To him it seemed that all this might have been cured by some signal display of divine justice. If God, instead of dealing with men by general and slow-working laws, would tear out some of the worst offenders from among the rest, the land might yet be saved.