ירמיהו טו

GOD said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel were to intercede with Me, I would not be won over to that people. Dismiss them from My presence, and let them go forth!

And if they ask you, ‘To what shall we go forth?’ answer them, ‘Thus said GOD:
Those destined for the plague, to the plague;
Those destined for the sword, to the sword;
Those destined for famine, to famine;
Those destined for captivity, to captivity.

And I will appoint over them four kinds [of punishment]—declares GOD—the sword to slay, the dogs to drag, the birds of the sky, and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, on account of King Manasseh son of Hezekiah of Judah, and of what he did in Jerusalem.’”

But who will pity you, O Jerusalem,
Who will console you?
Who will turn aside to inquire
About your welfare?

You cast Me off
—declares GOD—
You go ever backward.
So I have stretched out My hand to destroy you;
I cannot relent.

I will scatter them as with a winnowing fork
Through the settlements of the earth.
I will bereave, I will destroy My people,
For they would not turn back from their ways.

Their widows shall be more numerous
Than the sands of the seas.
I will bring against them—
Young men and mothers together—
A destroyer at noonday.
I will bring down suddenly upon them
Alarm and terror.

She who bore seven is forlorn,
Utterly disconsolate;
Her sun has set while it is still day,
She is shamed and humiliated.
The remnant of them I will deliver to the sword,
To the power of their enemies
—declares GOD.

Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me—
A man of conflict and strife with all the land!
I have not lent,
And I have not borrowed;
Yet everyone curses me.

GOD said:
Surely, a mere remnant of you
Will I spare for a better fate!
By the enemy from the north
In a time of distress and a time of disaster,
Surely, I will have you struck down!

Can iron break iron and bronze?

I will hand over your wealth and your treasures
As a spoil, free of charge,
Because of all your sins throughout your territory.

And I will bring your enemies
By way of a land you have not known.
For a fire has flared in My wrath,
It blazes against you.

O ETERNAL One, you know—
Remember me and take thought of me,
Avenge me on those who persecute me;
Do not yield to Your patience,
Do not let me perish!
Consider how I have borne insult
On Your account.

When Your words were offered, I devoured them;
Your word brought me the delight and joy
Of knowing that Your name is attached to me,
O ETERNAL One, God of Hosts.

I have not sat in the company of revelers
And made merry!
I have sat lonely because of Your hand upon me,
For You have filled me with gloom.

Why must my pain be endless,
My wound incurable,
Resistant to healing?
You have been to me like a spring that fails,
Like waters that cannot be relied on.

Assuredly, thus said GOD:
If you turn back, I shall take you back
And you shall stand before Me;
If you produce what is noble
Out of the worthless,
You shall be My spokesman.
They shall come back to you,
Not you to them.

Against this people I will make you
As a fortified wall of bronze:
They will attack you,
But they shall not overcome you,
For I am with you to deliver and save you
—declares GOD.

I will save you from the hands of the wicked
And rescue you from the clutches of the violent.