15 1 The Lord would hear no prayer for the Jews, 3 but threateneth to destroy them with four plagues.

Then said the Lord unto me, [a]Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet mine affection could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them depart.

And if they say unto thee, Whither shall we depart? then tell them, Thus saith the Lord, (A)Such as are appointed to death, unto death: and such as are for the sword, to the sword: and such as are for the famine, to the famine: and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord, the sword to slay, and the [b]dogs to tear in pieces, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth to devour, and to destroy.

I will [c]scatter them also in all kingdoms of the earth, [d]because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah King of Judah for that which he did in Jerusalem.

Who shall then have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall be sorry for thee? or who shall go to pray for thy peace?

Thou hast forsaken me, saith the Lord, and gone backward: therefore will I stretch out mine hand against thee, and destroy thee: for I [e]am weary with repenting.

And I will scatter them with the fan [f]in the gates of the earth: I have wasted, and destroyed my people, yet they would not return from their ways.

Their widows [g]are increased by me above the sand of the sea: I have brought upon them, and against the [h]assembly of the young men, a destroyer at noon day: I have caused him to fall upon them, and the city, suddenly and [i]speedily.

She that hath borne [j]seven, hath been made weak: her heart hath failed: the sun hath failed [k]her, while it was day, she hath been confounded, and ashamed, and the residue of them will I deliver unto the sword before their enemies, saith the Lord.

10 [l]Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me, a contentious man, and a man that striveth with the whole earth: I have neither [m]lent on usury, nor men have lent unto me on usury: yet everyone doth curse me.

11 The Lord said, [n]Surely thy remnant shall have wealth: surely I will cause thine enemy to entreat thee in the time of trouble, and in the time of affliction.

12 Shall the [o]iron break the iron, and the brass that cometh from the North?

13 Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to be spoiled without [p]gain, and that for all thy sins even in all thy borders.

14 And I will make thee to go with thine enemies into a land that thou knowest not, for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn you.

15 O Lord, thou knowest, remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my [q]persecutors: take me not away in the continuance of thine anger: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

16 Thy words were found by me, and I did [r]eat them, and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for thy Name is called upon me, O Lord God of hosts.

17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, neither did I rejoice, but sat alone [s]because of thy plague: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

18 Why is mine heaviness continual? and my plague desperate and cannot be healed, why art thou unto me [t]as a liar, and as waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou [u]return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take away the [v]precious from the vile, thou shalt be [w]according to my word: let them return [x]unto thee, but return not thou unto them.

20 And I will make thee unto this people a strong brazen wall, and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not [y]prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the tyrants.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 15:1 Meaning, that if there were any man living moved with so great zeal toward the people as were these two, yet that he would not grant this request, forasmuch as he had determined the contrary, Ezek. 14:14.
  2. Jeremiah 15:3 The dogs, birds, and beasts should devour them that were slain.
  3. Jeremiah 15:4 The word signifieth to run to and fro for fear, and unquietness of conscience, as did Cain.
  4. Jeremiah 15:4 Not that the people was punished for the king’s sin only, but for their own sins also, because they consented to his wickedness, 2 Kings 21:9.
  5. Jeremiah 15:6 That is, I will not call back my plagues or spare thee any more.
  6. Jeremiah 15:7 Meaning, the cities.
  7. Jeremiah 15:8 Because I had slain their husbands.
  8. Jeremiah 15:8 Or, mother.
  9. Jeremiah 15:8 Or, fearfully.
  10. Jeremiah 15:9 She that had many, lost all her children.
  11. Jeremiah 15:9 She was destroyed in the midst of her prosperity.
  12. Jeremiah 15:10 By these are the Prophet’s words, complaining of the obstinacy of the people and that he was reserved to so wicked a time: wherein also he showeth what is the condition of God’s ministers, to wit, to have all the world against them, though they give none occasion.
  13. Jeremiah 15:10 Which is an occasion of contention and hatred.
  14. Jeremiah 15:11 In this perplexity the Lord comforted me, and said that my last days should be quiet: and by the enemy he meaneth here, Nebuzaradan the captain of Nebuchadnezzar, who gave Jeremiah the choice either to remain in his country, or to go whither he would: or by the enemy he meaneth the Jews, which should afterward know Jeremiah’s fidelity, and therefore favor him.
  15. Jeremiah 15:12 As for the people, though they seemed strong as iron, yet should they not be able to resist the hard iron of Babylon, but should be led captives.
  16. Jeremiah 15:13 Or, ransom.
  17. Jeremiah 15:15 He speaketh not this for desire of revengeance, but wishing that God would deliver his Church of them whom he knew to be hardened and incorrigible.
  18. Jeremiah 15:16 I received them with a great joy, as he that is famished, eateth meat.
  19. Jeremiah 15:17 I had nothing a do with the wicked contemners of thy word, but lamented bitterly for thy plagues: showing what the faithful should do when they see tokens of God’s anger.
  20. Jeremiah 15:18 And hast not assisted me according to the promise? wherein appeareth that in the Saints of God is imperfection of faith, which through impatience is ofttimes assailed, as Jer. 20:7.
  21. Jeremiah 15:19 If thou forget these carnal considerations, and faithfully execute thy charge.
  22. Jeremiah 15:19 That is, seek to win the good from the bad.
  23. Jeremiah 15:19 To wit, as my mouth hath pronounced, Jer. 1:18, and as here followeth, verse 20.
  24. Jeremiah 15:19 Conform not thyself to their wickedness, but let them follow thy godly example.
  25. Jeremiah 15:20 I will learn thee with an invincible strength and constancy, so that all the powers of the world shall not overcome thee.

15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses(A) and Samuel(B) were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.(C) Send them away from my presence!(D) Let them go! And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;(E)
those for starvation, to starvation;(F)
those for captivity, to captivity.’(G)

“I will send four kinds of destroyers(H) against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword(I) to kill and the dogs(J) to drag away and the birds(K) and the wild animals to devour and destroy.(L) I will make them abhorrent(M) to all the kingdoms of the earth(N) because of what Manasseh(O) son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

“Who will have pity(P) on you, Jerusalem?
    Who will mourn for you?
    Who will stop to ask how you are?
You have rejected(Q) me,” declares the Lord.
    “You keep on backsliding.
So I will reach out(R) and destroy you;
    I am tired of holding back.(S)
I will winnow(T) them with a winnowing fork
    at the city gates of the land.
I will bring bereavement(U) and destruction on my people,(V)
    for they have not changed their ways.(W)
I will make their widows(X) more numerous
    than the sand of the sea.
At midday I will bring a destroyer(Y)
    against the mothers of their young men;
suddenly I will bring down on them
    anguish and terror.(Z)
The mother of seven will grow faint(AA)
    and breathe her last.(AB)
Her sun will set while it is still day;
    she will be disgraced(AC) and humiliated.
I will put the survivors to the sword(AD)
    before their enemies,”(AE)
declares the Lord.

10 Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,(AF)
    a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!(AG)
I have neither lent(AH) nor borrowed,
    yet everyone curses(AI) me.

11 The Lord said,

“Surely I will deliver you(AJ) for a good purpose;
    surely I will make your enemies plead(AK) with you
    in times of disaster and times of distress.

12 “Can a man break iron—
    iron from the north(AL)—or bronze?

13 “Your wealth(AM) and your treasures
    I will give as plunder,(AN) without charge,(AO)
because of all your sins
    throughout your country.(AP)
14 I will enslave you to your enemies
    in[a] a land you do not know,(AQ)
for my anger will kindle a fire(AR)
    that will burn against you.”

15 Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.(AS)
You are long-suffering(AT)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.(AU)
16 When your words came, I ate(AV) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,(AW)
for I bear your name,(AX)
    Lord God Almighty.
17 I never sat(AY) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand(AZ) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?(BA)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.(BB)

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve(BC) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.(BD)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
20 I will make you a wall(BE) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome(BF) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”(BG)
declares the Lord.
21 “I will save(BH) you from the hands of the wicked(BI)
    and deliver(BJ) you from the grasp of the cruel.”(BK)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 15:14 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac (see also 17:4); most Hebrew manuscripts I will cause your enemies to bring you / into