Jeremiah 15:2-21 ▼

2 And it will come to pass, if they say to you ‘Where should we go?’ That you shall say to them, thus says YHWH: ‘Those unto death—unto death, and those unto the sword—unto the sword, and those unto the famine—unto the famine, and those unto captivity—unto captivity!’

3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, says YHWH: The sword to slay, and the dogs to drag, and the bird of the heavens and the beast of the earth to devour and to destroy.

4 And I will set them as a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah—for that which he did in Jerusalem!

5 For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? Or who will mourn for you? Or who will turn aside to ask about your well-being?

6 You have forsaken Me, a declaration of YHWH; You have gone backward; and I have stretched out My hand against you, and will destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion.

7 And I will scatter them with a pitchfork at the gates of the land; I will bereave and destroy My people, who have not turned from their ways.

8 Its widows will be more numerous to Me than the sand of the seas; I will bring upon them—against the mother of the young man—a destroyer at noonday, and I will make fall on them suddenly anguish and terror.

9 She languishes who has borne seven; she has breathed her last, her sun has gone down while yet day; she has been ashamed and disgraved. And the remnant of them I will give to the sword, before the face of their enemies, a declaration of YHWH.

10 Woe to me, my mother, for you gave birth to me, a man of strife and a man of contention in all the land! I have not lent, and not have they lent on usury to me—all of them curse me.

11 YHWH said “Truly: With your remnant it will be well, truly have I not interceded with the enemy for you in the time of adversity and in the time of distress?

12 Can one break iron—iron from the north—and bronze?

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

14 And I will make you pass over with your enemies into a land that you do not know; for a fire is kindled in My anger that will burn against you?.”

15 You—You have known, O YHWH; remember me and attend to me, and take vengeance for me on my pursuers! In Your long-suffering do not take me away; know I have suffered rebuke for Your sake.

16 Your words were found, and I consumed them, and Your word to me was the joy and the gladness of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O YHWH God of Hosts.

17 I did not sit in the counsel of the mockers no rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, for You have filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? You will surely be to me like a liar, waters that fail?

19 Therefore, thus says YHWH: “If you turn back, then I will restore you; you will stand before My face; and if you bring out the precious things from the vile, you will be as My mouth. Let them turn back to you, and you shall not return to them.

20 And I will make you to this people as a wall of fortified bronze; and they shall make war against you, and they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you to save you and to deliver you! A declaration of YHWH.

21 And I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked ones, and I will ransom you from the grip of the terrible.”