CHAPTER 15
Then the LORD
said
to me:
“Even if
Moses
and Samuel
should stand
before Me,
My heart
would not
go out to
this
people.
Send
them from
My presence,
and let them go.
If
they ask you,
‘Where
shall we go?’
you are to tell
them that
this is what
the LORD
says:
‘Those
destined for death,
to death;
those
destined for the sword,
to the sword;
those
destined for famine,
to famine;
those
destined for captivity,
to captivity.’
I will appoint
over them
four
kinds of destroyers,
declares
the LORD:
the sword
to kill,
the dogs
to drag away,
and the birds
of the air
and beasts
of the earth
to devour
and destroy.
I will make
them
a horror
to all
the kingdoms
of the earth
because of
what
Manasseh
son
of Hezekiah
king
of Judah
did
in Jerusalem.
Who
will have pity
on you,
O Jerusalem?
Who
will mourn
for you?
Who
will turn aside
to ask
about your welfare?
You
have forsaken
Me,
declares
the LORD.
You have turned your back,
so I have stretched out
My hand
against you
to destroy you;
I am weary
of showing compassion.
I will scatter them
with a winnowing fork
at the gates
of the land.
I will bereave
and destroy
My people
who have not
turned
from their ways.
I will make their widows
more numerous
than the sand
of the sea.
I will bring
a destroyer
at noon
against
the mothers
of young men.
I will suddenly
bring
upon them
anguish
and dismay.
The mother
of seven
will grow faint;
she will breath
her last breath.
Her sun
will set
while it was still
day;
she will be disgraced
and humiliated.
And the rest
I will put
to the sword
in the presence
of their enemies,”
declares
the LORD.
Woe to me,
my mother,
that
you have borne me,
a man
of strife
and conflict
in all
the land.
I have neither
lent
nor
borrowed,
yet everyone
curses me.
The LORD
said:
“Surely
I will deliver you
for a good purpose;
surely I will
intercede
with your enemy
in your time
of trouble,
in your time
of distress.
Your wealth
and your treasures
I will give up
as plunder,
without
charge
for all
your sins
within all
your borders.
Then I will enslave you
to
your enemies
in a land
you do not
know,
for
My anger
will kindle
a fire
that will burn
against you.”
You
understand,
O LORD;
remember me
and attend to me.
Avenge me
against
my persecutors.
In Your patience,
do not
take me away.
Know that
I endure
reproach
for Your honor.
Your words
were found,
and I ate them.
Your words
became
a delight
to me
and my heart’s
delight,
for
I bear
Your name,
O LORD
God
of Hosts.
I never
sat
with the band
of revelers,
and I did not celebrate with them.
Because
Your hand was on me,
I sat
alone,
for You have filled me
with indignation.
Why
is
my pain
unending,
and my wound
incurable,
refusing
to be healed?
You have indeed become
like
a mirage to me—
water
that is not
there.
Therefore
this is what
the LORD
says:
“If
you return,
I will restore you;
you will stand
in My presence.
And if
you speak
words that are noble
instead of worthless,
you will be
My spokesman.
It is they
who must return
to you,
but you
must not
return
to them.
Then I will make you
a wall
to this
people,
a fortified wall
of bronze;
they will fight
against you
but will not
overcome you,
for
I
am with you
to save you
and deliver you.
declares
the LORD.