Jeremiah’s Lament and Yahweh’s Response

• 10 Woe to me, O my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man of contention and quarreling to the whole land .[fn]
• I have not lent out and I have not borrowed .[fn]
  • All of them are cursing me.
• 11 Yahweh said,“Surely[fn] I will set you free to be good[fn] for you,
  • surely[fn] I will cause the enemy to intercede with you
• in a time of trouble,
  • and in a time of distress.
  • 12 Can anyone break iron, iron from the north, or bronze?
  • 13 I will give your wealth and your treasures as plunder without price,
• even because of all your sins,
  • and throughout all your territories.
  • 14 And I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know,
• for a fire will kindle in my anger.
  • Upon you it will be kindled.”
  • 15 You who know, O Yahweh, remember me, and attend to me, and take revenge for me against my persecutors in your forbearance .[fn]
• You must take me away.
  • Know that I am carrying disgrace because of you.
  • 16 Your words were found and I ate them, 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 I sat not in the assembly of jokers, nor did I exult.
• Because of the presence[fn] of your hand I sat alone,
  • for you filled me with indignation.
  • 18 Why is my pain endless, and my wound incurable? 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 before me .[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 And I will make you to this people 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,” declares[fn] Yahweh.
  • 21 “And I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem you from the hand of the tyrant.”