LEB JER Chapter 15

Four Types of Calamity

15 Then Yahweh said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me,[fn] my heart would not be to this people. Send them away from my sight,[fn] and let them go out.

• 2 And then[fn] if they say to you, ‘Where shall we go?’ Then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, “Those who are destined for the plague, to the plague,
• and those who are destined for the sword, to the sword,
• and those who are destined for the famine, to the famine,
• and those who are destined for the captivity, to the captivity.” ’

3 “And I will summon[fn] over them four types of calamity,” declares[fn] Yahweh, “the sword to kill, and the dogs to drag away, and the birds[fn] of the air and the wild animals[fn] of the earth to devour and to destroy. 4 And I will make them a terror to all of the kingdoms of the earth because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, because of what he did in Jerusalem.

• 5 O Jerusalem, or who will show sympathy to you,
• or who will turn aside[fn]
• 6 [fn] Yahweh. “You go backward, so I have stretched my hand against you,
• and I have destroyed you.
  • I am tired of becoming remorseful.
  • 7  I am bereaved.
• I have destroyed my people.
  • They did not turn back from their ways.
  • 8 [fn] will be more numerous before me than the sand of the seas. I have brought to them, against the mothers[fn] of young men,[fn]
• a destroyer at noon.
  • I will suddenly drop on her anguish and horror.[fn]
  • 9  She gasps her breath.
• Her sun[fn] while still day.
  • She has been put to shame and disgraced.
• And the remainder of them I will give to the sword
  • [fn] their enemies,” [fn] Yahweh.

Jeremiah’s Lament and Yahweh’s Response

• 10 O my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man of contention and quarreling[fn]
• I have not lent out and[fn]
  • All of them are cursing me.
• 11 Yahweh said,“[fn] I will set you free [fn] for you,
  • [fn] I will cause the enemy to intercede with you
• in a time of trouble,
  • and in a time of distress.
  • 12  iron from the north, or bronze?
  • 13  as plunder without price,
• even because of all your sins,
  • and throughout all your territories.
  • 14  in a land that you do not know,
• for a fire will kindle in my anger.
  • Upon you it will be kindled.”
  • 15 O Yahweh, remember me, and attend to me, and take revenge for me against my persecutors[fn]
• You must take me away.
  • Know that I am carrying disgrace because of you.
  • 16  and your words became to me as jubilation,
• even as the joy of my heart,
  • for your name is called on me, O Yahweh God of hosts.
  • 17  nor did I exult.
• Because of the[fn] of your hand I sat alone,
  • for you filled me with indignation.
  • 18  It refuses to become healed.
• Truly you are to me like a deceitful brook,
  • waters that are not trustworthy.
• 19 Therefore thus says Yahweh,“If you turn back, then I will take you back.
  • You will stand[fn]
• And if you utter what is precious and not what is worthless,
  • you will be as my mouth.
• They will turn back to you,
  • and you will not turn back to them.
  • 20  a wall of fortified bronze,
• and they will fight against you,
  • but they will not prevail over you,
• for I am with you, to save you,
  • and to deliver you,”[fn] Yahweh.
  • 21  and I will redeem you from the hand of the tyrant.”