Jeremiah 15:10–21

Jeremiah’s Complaint

^10kWoe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! ^lI have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. ¹¹The Lord said, “Have I not¹ set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? ¹²Can one break iron, iron ^mfrom the north, and bronze?

¹³ⁿ“Your wealth and your treasures I will give as ^ospoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory. ¹⁴I will make you serve your enemies ^pin a land that you do not know, ^qfor in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”

^15rO Lord, you know;

^sremember me and visit me,

^stand take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance take me not away;

^uknow that ^vfor your sake I bear reproach.

¹⁶Your words were found, ^wand I ate them,

and ^xyour words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

^yfor I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

^17zI did not sit in the company of revelers,

nor did I rejoice;

^aI sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

for you had filled me with indignation.

¹⁸Why is my pain unceasing,

^bmy wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Will you be to me ^clike a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail?

¹⁹Therefore thus says the Lord:

^d“If you return, I will restore you,

and you shall ^estand before me.

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

you shall be as my mouth.

They shall turn to you,

but you shall not turn to them.

^20fAnd I will make you to this people

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,

^gbut they shall not prevail over you,

^hfor I am with you

to save you and deliver you,

declares the Lord.

^21gI will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

and redeem you from the grasp of ⁱthe ruthless.”