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.

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