Jeremiah 15

1. Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My soul could not be toward this people. Cast them out of My sight, and let them go out.

2. And it will be, if they say to you, ‘Where shall we go?’ Then you shall tell them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Those who are for death, to death; and those for the sword, to the sword; and those for the famine, to the famine; and those for the captivity, to the captivity.” ’

3. And I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers,” says the LORD; “the sword to kill, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

4. And I will make them a horror to all kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.

5. For who shall have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who shall weep over you? Or who shall turn aside to ask about your welfare?

6. You have forsaken Me,” says the LORD; “you have gone backward; therefore I will stretch out My hand against you, and destroy you; I am weary with repenting.

7. And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children; I will destroy My people, since they do not turn from their ways.

8. I have made their widows more numerous than the sand of the seas; I have brought upon them, against the mother of the young men, a destroyer at noonday; I have caused anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly.

9. “She who bore seven languishes; she has breathed out her life; her sun has gone down while it was yet day. She has been ashamed and humiliated; and I will deliver the rest of them to the sword before their enemies,” says the LORD.

10. Woe is me,my mother,that you have borne me, a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not loaned, nor have men loaned to me; yet every one of them curses me.

11. The LORD said, “Truly it shall be well with your remnant. Truly I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

12. Can one break iron, iron or bronze from the north?

13. Your wealth and your treasures I will give for spoil without price, but for all your sins, even in all your borders.

14. And I will make you pass with your enemies into a land which you do not know. For a fire has been kindled in My anger; it shall burn against you.”

15. O LORD, You know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on those who seek to hurt me. Do not take me away even in the slowness of Your anger; know that for Your sake I have suffered rebuke.

16. Your words were found, and I ate them; and Your Word was to me the joy and gladness of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

17. I did not sit in the circle of revelers, nor rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand; for You have filled me with indignation.

18. Why has my pain been without end, and why is my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Why have you become like a failing brook to Me?

19. Therefore thus says the LORD, “If you return, then I will bring you again; you shall stand before Me. And if you shall speak what is precious and not what is worthless, you shall be as My mouth. Let them turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.

20. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not overcome you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you,” says the LORD.

21. “And I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you out of the hand of the evil ones.”