Jeremiah 15

Judgment Is Unavoidable

1 Then the LORD said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of My sight, let them go.”

2 And if they ask, “Where should we go?” tell them, “This is what the LORD says: Those destined for death, to death. Those for the sword, to the sword. Those for famine, to famine. Those for captivity, to captivity.”

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

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

Jerusalem’s Sorrow

5 “Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem, Who will mourn for you, Who will turn aside to ask how you are doing?”

6 “You abandoned Me,” declares the LORD. “You keep turning away. So I have stretched out My hand against you and destroyed you, I am tired of holding back My anger.”

7 “I will winnow them with a pitchfork at the gates of the land. I will bereave and destroy My people, because they refuse to turn from their ways.”

8 “The widows among My people will be more numerous than the sand of the sea. At midday I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of young men. Suddenly I will bring anguish and terror upon them.”

9 “She who bore seven sons wastes away; she gasps for breath. Her sun has set while it was still day. She is ashamed and humiliated. I will hand over their survivors to the sword before their enemies,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah’s Complaint

10 “Woe to me, my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man of conflict and strife with the whole land. I did not lend or borrow, yet everyone curses me.”

11 The LORD said, “Surely I will rescue you for good. Surely I will cause your enemies to plead with you in times of disaster and distress.”

12 “Can anyone break iron, iron from the north, or bronze?”

13 “I will give away your wealth and treasures as plunder, without price, because of all your sins throughout your land.”

14 “I will make you serve your enemies in a land you do not know, for My anger is a fire that will burn against you.”

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Help

15 “LORD, You know me; remember me and care for me. Take vengeance on my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Know that for Your sake I bear reproach.”

16 “Your words were found, and I ate them. Your word became to me the joy and delight of my heart, For I bear Your name, LORD God of armies.”

17 “I did not sit in the gatherings of jokers, nor did I celebrate with them. Because of Your hand on me, I sat alone, for You filled me with indignation.”

18 “Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable and refusing to heal, Will You be to me like a deceptive stream, like waters that fail?”

God’s Response: Restoration and Strength

19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you return, I will restore you and you will stand before Me. If you speak what is precious and not worthless, you will be My spokesman. They must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.”

20 “I will make you a fortified bronze wall to this people. They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, For I am with you to save you and 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.”