15
1 Then
the LORD said
to me, “Though
Moses and Samuel
stood before me,
yet my mind
would not turn
toward this people.
Cast them out
of my sight,
and let them
go out!
2 It
will happen when
they ask you, ‘Where
shall we go
out?’ then you
shall tell them, ‘The
LORD says:
“Such as are
for death, to
death;
such as are
for the sword,
to the sword;
such as are
for the famine,
to the famine;
and such as
are for captivity,
to captivity.” ’
3 “I
will appoint over
them four kinds,”
says the LORD: “the
sword to kill,
the dogs to
tear, the birds
of the sky,
and the animals of
the earth,
to devour and to
destroy.
4 I
will cause them
to be tossed back
and forth among
all the kingdoms
of the earth,
because of
Manasseh, the son
of Hezekiah, king
of Judah, for
that which he
did in Jerusalem.
5 For
who will have
pity on you,
Jerusalem?
Who will mourn
you?
Who will come to
ask of your
welfare?
6 You
have rejected me,”
says the LORD.
“You have
gone backward.
Therefore I have
stretched out my
hand against you
and destroyed you.
I am weary
of showing
compassion.
7 I
have winnowed them
with a fan
in the gates
of the land.
I have bereaved
them of children.
I have destroyed
my people.
They didn’t return
from their ways.
8 Their widows
are increased more
than the sand
of the seas.
I have brought on
them against
the mother of
the young men a
destroyer at
noonday.
I have caused
anguish and terrors
to fall on
her suddenly.
9 She
who has borne
seven languishes.
She has given
up the spirit.
Her sun has
gone down while
it was yet
day.
She has
been disappointed and
confounded.
I will deliver
their residue to
the sword before
their enemies,” says
the LORD.
10 Woe is
me, my mother,
that you have
borne me, a
man of strife,
and a man
of contention to
the whole earth!
I have not
lent, neither have
men lent to
me;
yet every one
of them curses
me.
11 The
LORD said,
“Most certainly I
will strengthen you
for good.
Most certainly I
will cause the enemy
to make
supplication to
you in the
time of evil
and in the
time of affliction.
12 Can one
break iron,
even iron from the
north, and bronze?
13 I
will give your
substance and
your treasures for
a plunder without
price,
and that for
all your sins,
even in all
your borders.
14 I
will make them
to pass with
your enemies into
a land which
you don’t know;
for a fire is
kindled in my
anger,
which will burn
on you.”
15 LORD,
you know.
Remember me,
visit me,
and avenge me
of my persecutors.
You are patient,
so don’t take me
away.
Know that for
your sake I
have suffered
reproach.
16 Your
words were found,
and I ate them.
Your words were
to me a
joy and the
rejoicing of my
heart,
for I am
called by your
name, LORD, God
of Armies.
17 I didn’t
sit in the
assembly of those
who make merry
and rejoice.
I sat alone
because of your
hand,
for you have
filled me with
indignation.
18 Why
is my pain
perpetual,
and my
wound incurable,
which refuses to
be healed?
Will you indeed
be to me
as a deceitful brook,
like waters that
fail?
19 Therefore
the LORD says,
“If you return,
then I will
bring you again,
that you may
stand before me;
and if you
take out the
precious from the
vile,
you will be
as my mouth.
They will return
to you,
but you will
not return to
them.
20 I
will make you
to this people
a fortified bronze
wall.
They will fight
against you,
but they will
not prevail
against you;
for I am
with you to
save you
and to deliver
you,” says the
LORD.
21 “I
will deliver you
out of the
hand of the
wicked,
and I will
redeem you out
of the hand
of the terrible.”