THE
BOOK OF JEREMIAH
Jeremiah Chapter
15
1
¶ Then the LORD said to me, Even if Moses and Samuel were standing in front of
me, I would not feel kind toward these people: send them out of my
sight, and let them go.
2
And if they ask you, Where should we go? then say to them, The LORD says; Those who are to
die, must go to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those
destined for famine, to the famine; and those destined for captivity, into
captivity.
3
And I will ordain four kinds of destruction for them, says the LORD: the sword
to slay, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the heaven, and beasts of the
earth, to devour and destroy.
4
And I will cause them to be scattered among all kingdoms of the
earth, because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of
5
For who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem? who will
weep over you? who will go out of his way to ask how
you are?
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 tired of feeling sorry
for you.
7
And I will scatter them with a winnowing fork among the towns of the land; I
will take away their children, I will destroy my people, because
they will not give up their ways.
8
Their widows have become more than the sand by the sea: I have brought against
the mothers of young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused him to
fall upon them suddenly, and terror upon the city.
9
She who has given birth to seven grows faint: she has given up the ghost; and
her sun has gone down while it was yet day: she was put to shame and
humiliated: and I will deliver the rest of them to the sword of their enemies,
says the LORD.
10
¶ Woe is me, my mother, how is it that you gave birth to me a man who
must strive and contend with the whole earth! I have neither
lent to men at interest, or borrowed from them at interest; yet
every one of them curses me.
11
The LORD says, Truly your affliction will be for good;
truly I will cause the enemy to treat you well at the time of
destruction and the time of distress.
12
Can iron break the northern iron and the steel?
13
I will give your wealth and your treasures away as plunder without payment,
because of the sins you commit, throughout your land.
14
And I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not
know: because my anger has lit a fire, that
will burn you.
15
¶ O LORD, you understand: remember me, come to help me, and take vengeance on
my persecutors; in your patience do not take me away: you know that I suffer
disgrace for your sake.
16
When your words were found, I ate them; and your word became a joy to me and
delighted my heart: for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts.
17
I did not join with those who mock, or laugh with them; I sat alone
because your hand was upon me: for you have filled me with indignation.
18
Why is there no end to my pain, and no cure for my
wound, which refuses to heal? will you be like
a mirage to me, like water that disappears?
19
Then the LORD said, If you return, then I will restore you, and you will
stand before me: and if you say the things that are precious rather than what
is worthless, you will speak for me: but let them yield to you; do not yield to
them.
20
And I will make you a fortified wall of bronze to these people: and when they
fight against you, they will not prevail against you: for I am with you
to save you and to deliver you, says the LORD.
21
And I will rescue you from the hands of the wicked, and I will free you from of
the hands of tyrants.