Jeremiah 15:16–19

16 When your words came, I ate them;

they were my joy and my heart’s delight,

for I bear your name,

Lord God Almighty.

17 I never sat in the company of revelers,

never made merry with them;

I sat alone because your hand was on me

and you had filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain unending

and my wound grievous and incurable?

You are to me like a deceptive brook,

like a spring that fails.

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you

that you may serve me;

if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,

you will be my spokesman.

Let this people turn to you,

but you must not turn to them.

16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them.

They are my joy and my heart’s delight,

for I bear your name,

O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts.

I sat alone because your hand was on me.

I was filled with indignation at their sins.

18 Why then does my suffering continue?

Why is my wound so incurable?

Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook,

like a spring that has gone dry.”

19 This is how the Lord responds:

“If you return to me, I will restore you

so you can continue to serve me.

If you speak good words rather than worthless ones,

you will be my spokesman.

You must influence them;

do not let them influence you!

16 Your words were found, and I ate them,

And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;

For I am called by Your name,

O Lord God of hosts.

17 I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers,

Nor did I rejoice;

I sat alone because of Your hand,

For You have filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain perpetual

And my wound incurable,

Which refuses to be healed?

Will You surely be to me like an unreliable stream,

As waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus says the Lord:

“If you return,

Then I will bring you back;

You shall stand before Me;

If you take out the precious from the vile,

You shall be as My mouth.

Let them return to you,

But you must not return to them.

16 Your words came to me, and I listened carefully to them.

Your words made me very happy,

because I am called by your name,

Lord God All-Powerful.

17 I never sat with the crowd

as they laughed and had fun.

I sat by myself, because you were there,

and you filled me with anger at the evil around me.

18 I don’t understand why my pain has no end.

I don’t understand why my injury is not cured or healed.

Will you be like a brook that goes dry?

Will you be like a spring that stops flowing?

19 So this is what the Lord says:

“If you change your heart and return to me, I will take you back.

Then you may serve me.

And if you speak things that have worth,

not useless words,

then you may speak for me.

Let the people of Judah turn to you,

but you must not change and be like them.

16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy words were unto me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by thy name, O Jehovah, God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of them that make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand; for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, as waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them.

16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and thy words were unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O Jehovah, God of hosts. 17 I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor exulted: I sat alone because of thy hand; for thou hast filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable? It refuseth to be healed. Wilt thou be altogether unto me as a treacherous spring, as waters that fail? 19 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: If thou return, then will I bring thee again, thou shalt stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth. Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

16 Your words were found, and I devoured them. 

Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight, 

because I am called by your name, O Lord God of Armies. 

17 I didn’t keep company with those who laugh and have fun. 

I sat alone because your hand was on me. 

You filled me with outrage. 

18 Why is my pain unending 

and my wound incurable, refusing to heal? 

Will you disappoint me like a stream 

that dries up in summertime? 

19 This is what the Lord says: 

If you will return, I will take you back. 

If you will speak what is worthwhile and not what is worthless, 

you will stand in my presence. 

The people will return to you, but you will not return to them. 

16 Your words were found, and I ate them.

Your words became a delight to me

and the joy of my heart,

for I am called by Your name,

Yahweh God of Hosts.

17 I never sat with the band of revelers,

and I did not celebrate with them.

Because Your hand was on me, I sat alone,

for You filled me with indignation.

18 Why has my pain become unending,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

You truly have become like a mirage to me—

water that is not reliable.

19 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:

If you return, I will restore you;

you will stand in My presence.

And if you speak noble words,

rather than worthless ones,

you will be My spokesman.

It is they who must return to you;

you must not return to them.

16 Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

17 I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,

nor did I rejoice;

under the weight of your hand I sat alone,

for you had filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain unceasing,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail.

19 Therefore thus says the Lord:

If you turn back, I will take you back,

and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious and not what is worthless,

you shall serve as my mouth.

It is they who will turn to you,

not you who will turn to them.

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 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.

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.

16 When I received your words, I ate them.

They filled me with joy.

My heart took delight in them.

Lord God who rules over all,

I belong to you.

17 I never sat around with those who go to wild parties.

I never had a good time with them.

I sat alone because you had put your powerful hand on me.

Your anger against sin was burning inside me.

18 Why does my pain never end?

Why is my wound so deep?

Why can’t I ever get well?

To me you are like a stream that runs dry.

You are like a spring that doesn’t have any water.

19 So the Lord says,

“Turn away from your sins. Then I will heal you.

And then you will be able to serve me.

Speak words that are worthy, not worthless.

Then you will be speaking for me.

Let these people turn to you.

But you must not turn to them.

16 Your words were found and I ate them,

And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;

For I have been called by Your name,

O Lord God of hosts.

17 I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers,

Nor did I exult.

Because of Your hand upon me I sat alone,

For You filled me with indignation.

18 Why has my pain been perpetual

And my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?

Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream

With water that is unreliable?

19 Therefore, thus says the Lord,

“If you return, then I will restore you—

Before Me you will stand;

And if you extract the precious from the worthless,

You will become My spokesman.

They for their part may turn to you,

But as for you, you must not turn to them.