Jeremiah 15

And the Lord said to me: Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before me, my soul is not toward them. Send this people away, and let them go out.

And it shall be, if they say to you, Where shall we go out? then you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord: Those for death, to death; and those for the sword, to the sword; and those for famine, to famine; and those for captivity, to captivity.

And I will take vengeance upon them with four kinds, says the Lord: the sword for slaughter, and the dogs for tearing apart, and the wild beasts of the earth and the birds of heaven for food and for destruction.

And I will hand them over to distresses among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for all that he did in Jerusalem.

Who will spare you, O Jerusalem? And who will be afraid for you? Or who will turn aside to ask after your peace?

You have turned away from me, says the Lord; you shall go backward. So I will stretch out my hand and destroy you, and I will no longer spare them.

And I will scatter them in a dispersion at the gates of my people; they were made childless, they destroyed my people because of their evils.

Their widows were multiplied beyond the sand of the sea; at midday I brought misery upon the mother of a young man; I suddenly cast upon her trembling and haste.

She who bore seven was emptied; her soul grew faint; the sun set upon her while it was still the middle of the day; she was put to shame and reproached. Their remnant I will give over to the sword before their enemies.

Woe is me, mother! As what did you bear me — a man contending and disputing with all the land? I have profited no one, nor has anyone profited me; my strength has failed among those who curse me.

So be it, Master, while they go on prospering. Did I not stand before you in the time of their calamities and in the time of their affliction, for good toward the enemy?

Shall iron be known, and a covering of bronze?

Your strength and your treasures I will give over as plunder, as a recompense, because of all your sins and throughout all your borders.

And I will enslave you all around to your enemies, in a land that you did not know; for a fire has been kindled out of my wrath — it shall burn upon you.

O Lord, remember me and visit me and clear me of those who pursue me; do not hold back in long-suffering. Know that for your sake I have borne reproach,

from those who reject your words. Bring them to an end! And your word shall be to me gladness and joy of my heart, for your name has been called upon me, O Lord Almighty.

I did not sit in the assembly of those making merry, but I was in awe before the face of your hand; I sat alone, for I was filled with bitterness.

Why do those who grieve me prevail against me? My wound is stubborn; from where shall I be healed? It has indeed become to me like deceitful water that has no faithfulness.

Therefore thus says the Lord: If you turn back, I will restore you, and you shall stand before my face; and if you bring out what is precious from what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. And they shall turn back to you, but you shall not turn back to them.

And I will make you to this people as a fortified wall of bronze; and they shall fight against you, but they shall never prevail against you, for I am with you to save you,

and to deliver you out of the hand of evil men; and I will redeem you out of the hand of pestilent men.