Jeremiah 15:5–11

⁵Who will have pity on you, Jerusalem?^u

Who will show sympathy toward you?^v

Who will turn aside

to ask about your well-being?

⁶You have left me.”^w

This is the Lord’s declaration.

“You have turned your back,

so I have stretched out my hand against you

and destroyed you.

I am tired^x of showing compassion.

⁷I scattered them with a winnowing fork

at the city gates of the land.

I made them childless; I destroyed my people.

They would not turn from their ways.^y

⁸I made their widows more numerous

than the sand of the seas.^z

I brought a destroyer at noon

against the mother of young men.

I suddenly released on her

agitation and terrors.

⁹The mother of seven grew faint;^aa

she breathed her last breath.

Her sun set while it was still day;

she was ashamed and humiliated.

The rest of them I will give over to the sword

in the presence of their enemies.”

This is the Lord’s declaration.

JEREMIAH’S COMPLAINT

¹⁰Woe is me, my mother,

that you gave birth to me,^ab

a man who incites dispute and conflict

in all the land.

I did not lend or borrow,

yet everyone curses me.^ac

THE LORD’S RESPONSE

¹¹The Lord said:

Haven’t I set you loose for your good? Haven’t I punished you

in a time of trouble,

in a time of distress

with the enemy?^A