Jeremiah 15

1The LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my whole being would not turn toward this people. Send them away from before me; let them go out.

2When they ask you, “Where are we to go?”
you are to say to them, “Thus says the LORD:

Those destined for death, to death;
those destined for the sword, to the sword;
those destined for famine, to famine;
those destined for captivity, to captivity.”

3“I will appoint over them four kinds,” declares the LORD: “the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to devour and to destroy.

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

5For who will have compassion on you, Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will turn aside to ask after your well-being?

6“You have forsaken me,” declares the LORD. “You keep going backward. So I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you; I am weary of relenting.

7I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land. I have bereaved; I have destroyed my people. They did not turn from their ways.

8Their widows have become more numerous before me than the sand of the seas. Against the mother of a young man I have brought a destroyer at noon; suddenly I have made anguish and terrors fall upon her.

9She who bore seven has languished; she has breathed out her life. Her sun has gone down while it was still day; she is ashamed and humiliated. And their remnant I will give to the sword before their enemies,” declares the LORD.

10Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have neither lent, nor have they lent to me; yet every one of them curses me.

11The LORD said: “Surely I have set you free for good; surely I have made the enemy entreat you in a time of evil and in a time of distress.

12Can iron break iron from the north, and bronze?

13Your wealth and your treasuries I will give as plunder, without price, because of all your sins throughout all your borders.

14I will make you pass over to your enemies into a land you do not know, for a fire has been kindled in my anger; it will burn against you.

15You know, LORD; remember me and attend to me, and avenge me against my persecutors. Do not take me away because of your patience. Know that for your sake I bear reproach.

16Your words were found, and I ate them; your word became for me joy and the delight of my heart, for your name has been called upon me, LORD, God of Hosts.

17I did not sit in the company of revelers and rejoice. Because of your hand I sat alone, for you filled me with indignation.

18Why has my pain become unending, and my wound grievous, refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me like a deceptive brook, like waters that are not reliable?

19Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, I will restore you, and you will stand before me. If you bring out what is precious from what is worthless, you will be as my mouth. Let them turn to you, but you must not turn to them.

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

21“I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”