Jer 15:15-18 | NETfull | STEP | I said, “ Lord , you know how I suffer. Take thought of me and care for me. Pay back for me those who have been persecuting me. Do not be so patient with them that you allow them to kill me. Be mindful of how I have put up with their insults for your sake.

Jeremiah 15:15-18

15 I said, ^{▼▼ The words “I said” are not in the text. They are supplied in the translation for clarity to mark the shift from the Lord speaking to Jerusalem, to Jeremiah speaking to God.}

“Lord, you know how I suffer. ^{▼▼ The words “how I suffer” are not in the text but are implicit from the continuation. They are supplied in the translation for clarity. Jeremiah is not saying “you are all knowing.”}
Take thought of me and care for me.
Pay back for me those who have been persecuting me.
Do not be so patient with them that you allow them to kill me.
Be mindful of how I have put up with their insults for your sake.
16 As your words came to me I drank them in, ^{▼▼ Heb “Your words were found and I ate them.” This along with Ezek 2:8–3:3 is a poetic picture of inspiration. The prophet accepted them, assimilated them, and made them such a part of himself that he spoke with complete assurance what he knew were God’s words.}
and they filled my heart with joy and happiness
because I belong to you. ^{▼▼ Heb “Your name is called upon me.”} ^{▼▼ See Jer 14:9 where this idiom is applied to Israel as a whole and Jer 7:10 where it is applied to the temple. For discussion cf. notes on 7:10.}
17 I did not spend my time in the company of other people,
laughing and having a good time.
I stayed to myself because I felt obligated to you ^{▼▼ Heb “because of your hand.”}
and because I was filled with anger at what they had done.
18 Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish?
Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound?
Will you let me down when I need you
like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?” ^{▼▼ Heb “Will you be to me like a deceptive (brook), like waters which do not last [or are not reliable].”} ^{▼▼ Jeremiah is speaking of the stream beds or wadis which fill with water after the spring rains but often dry up in the summer time. A fuller picture is painted in Job 6:14–21. This contrasts with the earlier metaphor that God had used of himself in Jer 2:13.}