Jeremiah 15
The Lord’s Negative Response
1Then the Lord said to me: “Even if a Moses and b Samuel should c stand before Me, d My compassions would not reach out to these people. Send them from My presence, and let them go. 2 If they ask you, ‘Where will we go?’ you must tell them: This is what the Lord says:Those destined for death e 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 ordain four kinds ▼
▼Lit families
of judgment for them” – this is the Lord’s declaration – “the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, g and the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land h to devour and destroy. 4I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh i son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem. 5 Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? jWho will show sympathy toward you? k
Who will turn aside
to ask about your welfare?
6 You have left Me.
This is the Lord’s declaration.
You have turned your back,
so I have stretched out My hand against you
and destroyed you.
I am tired of showing compassion.
7 I scattered them with a winnowing fork
at the gates of the land.
I made them childless; I destroyed My people.
They would not turn from their ways. l
8 I made their widows more numerous
than the sand of the seas. m
I brought a destroyer at noon
against the mother of young men.
I suddenly released on her
agitation and terrors.
9 The mother of seven grew faint; n
she breathed her last breath.
Her sun set while it was still day;
she was ashamed and humiliated.
The rest of them I will give over to the sword
in the presence of their enemies.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
Jeremiah’s Complaint
10 Woe is me, my mother,that you gave birth to me, o
a man who incites dispute and conflict
in all the land.
I did not lend or borrow,
yet everyone curses me. p
The Lord’s Response
11 The Lord said:I will certainly set you free and care for you. ▼▼Lit free for good
I will certainly intercede for you
in a time of trouble,
in your time of distress, with the enemy.
12 Can anyone smash iron,
iron from the north, or bronze?
13 I will give up your wealth
and your treasures as plunder,
without cost r for all your sins
in all your borders.
14 Then I will make you serve your enemies ▼
▼Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg; other Hb mss read you pass through
in a land you do not know,
for My anger will kindle a fire
that will burn against you. t
Jeremiah’s Prayer for Vengeance
15 You know u Lord;remember me and take note of me.
Avenge me against my persecutors. v
In Your patience ▼
▼Lit In the slowness of Your anger
don’t take me away.Know that I suffer disgrace for Your honor. x
16 Your words were found, and I ate them. y
Your words became a delight to me
and the joy of my heart,
for I am called by Your name z
▼
▼Yahweh/Yah: Or The Lord; the personal name of God in Hebrew; "Yah" is the shortened form of the name.
Yahweh God of ▼▼Hosts/hosts: Military forces consisting of God's angels, sometimes including the sun, moon, and stars, and occasionally, Israel
Hosts. 17 I never sat with the band of revelers,
and I did not celebrate with them.
Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone ac
for You filled me with indignation.
18 Why has my pain become unending,
my wound incurable ad
refusing to be healed?
You truly have become like a mirage to me –
water that is not reliable.
Jeremiah Told to Repent
19 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:If you return, I will restore you;you will stand in My presence.
And if you speak noble words,
rather than worthless ones,
you will be My spokesman. ae
It is they who must return to you;
you must not return to them.
20 Then I will make you a fortified wall of bronze
to this people.
They will fight against you
but will not overcome you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you. af
This is the Lord’s declaration.
21 I will deliver you from the power of evil people
and redeem you from the control of the ruthless.
Copyright information for
HCSB