Lamenting Jerusalem’s dire circumstances

¹The LORD said to me: Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, I wouldn’t change my mind about these people. Send them away from me. Let them go!

²And if they say, “Go where?” tell them, This is what the LORD proclaims:

Those marked for death—to death,

those marked for war—to war,

those marked for famine—to famine, and those marked for exile—to exile.

³I will appoint over them four agents of death, declares the LORD : soldiers to kill, dogs to drag off, and vultures and wild animals to devour and destroy.[#15.3 Or families]

⁴Because of what Judah’s King Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son, has done in Jerusalem, I will make them an object of horror to all nations on earth.

⁵Who will pity you, Jerusalem?

Who will shed tears over you?

Who will stop and ask how you’re doing?

⁶You have deserted me,

You have turned your back on me.

So I will turn my hand against you

I’m tired of holding back.

⁷I will winnow them with a winnowing fork

I will bereave and destroy my people

because they haven’t changed their ways.

⁸Their widows will outnumber

the sand on the shore.

I will bring a destroyer in broad daylight

against the mothers of young men.

Suddenly I will bring distress

and terror upon them.

⁹The mother of seven

will grow weak and gasp for air;

I will deliver the survivors to the sword,

to the power of their enemies,

¹⁰I wish I had never been born! I have become a source of conflict and dissension in my own country. Even though I haven’t lent or borrowed, still everyone curses me.

¹¹The LORD said:

Haven’t I taken care of you?

Haven’t I helped you with your enemies

¹²Can a person shatter iron,

iron from the north, or bronze?

¹³Your wealth and belongings

I will deliver as plunder,

¹⁴I will make you serve your enemies

in a land you don’t know,

¹⁵You understand, LORD !

Remember me and act on my behalf.

Bring judgment on those who torment me.

In your mercy, spare my life.

Consider how I’m insulted on your account.

¹⁶When your words turned up, I feasted on them;

and they became my joy, the delight of my heart,

¹⁷I didn’t join the festive occasions;

I took no delight in them.

I sat alone

¹⁸Why am I always in pain?

Why is my wound incurable,

You have become for me as unreliable

as a spring gone dry!

¹⁹Therefore, the LORD proclaims:

If you return to me, I will take you back

and let you stand before me.

If you utter what is worthwhile,

you will be my spokesman.

They will turn to you,

not you to them!

²⁰I will make you a sturdy bronze wall

against these people.

They will attack you,

because I am with you

²¹I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked;

I will redeem you from the grasp of the violent.