Jeremiah 15

1Yahweh said to me, "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my soul would not be toward this people; send them from my presence, and let them go out."

2When they say to you, “Where shall we go out?”, you shall say to them, “Thus says Yahweh: those for death, to death; those for sword, to sword; those for famine, to famine; those for captivity, to captivity.”

3I will appoint over them four kinds, declares Yahweh: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, the birds of the sky, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

4I will make them a horror and dismay 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 pity you, Jerusalem? Who will bemoan you? Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?

6You rejected me, declares Yahweh—you turn backward—so I stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you; I am weary of repenting.

7I winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I bereaved them and destroyed my people, for they did not return from their ways.

8Their widows have grown more numerous for me than the sand of the seas; I have brought a destroyer upon them at noonday against the mother of a young man; I have caused terrors to fall suddenly upon the city.

9She who bore seven languishes; she has breathed out her soul—her sun sets while it is still day—she is ashamed and confounded, and I will give their remnant to the sword in front of their enemies, declares Yahweh.

10Alas for me, my mother, that you bore me a quarrelsome man and a contentious man to the whole land! I have not acted as creditor, nor have they to me; all of them curse me.

11Yahweh said, "Surely I will direct your remnant for good; surely I will cause the enemy to plead with you in the time of calamity and in the time of distress."

12Can iron break iron from the north and bronze?

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

14I will make you pass with your enemies into a land you do not know, for a fire has kindled in my anger and will burn upon you.

15You know, Yahweh—remember me and visit me, and avenge me from my persecutors; in the patience of your anger do not take me away; know that for your sake I have borne reproach.

16Your words were found, and I ate them; your words became joy and rejoicing of my heart, for your name was called upon me, Yahweh God of Hosts.

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

18Why has my grief become unceasing, and my stroke desperate, refusing healing? Will you be to me like deceitful waters, not reliable?

19Therefore thus says Yahweh: If you return, I will restore you to stand before me; if you separate the precious from the worthless, you will be as my mouth—they will return to you, but you will not return to them.

20I will set you to this people as a fortified bronze wall; they will fight against you, but they will not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and to deliver you, says Yahweh.

21I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the oppressors.