Jeremiah 15:1–9

Doom for the People of Judah

15^*Then the Lord said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel were standing here pleading with me, I would not show these people any mercy. Make them go away; make them get out of my sight. ^2*When they ask you where they should go, tell them that I have said:

Some are doomed to die by disease—

that’s where they will go!

Others are doomed to die in war—

that’s where they will go!

Some are doomed to die of starvation—

that’s where they will go!

Others are doomed to be taken away as prisoners—

that’s where they will go!

³I, the Lord, have decided that four terrible things will happen to them: they will be killed in war; their bodies will be dragged off by dogs; birds will eat them, and wild animals will devour what is left over. ^4*I will make all the people of the world horrified at them because of what Hezekiah’s son Manasseh did in Jerusalem when he was king of Judah.”

⁵The Lord says,

“Who will pity you, people of Jerusalem,

and who will grieve over you?

Who will stop long enough

to ask how you are?

⁶You people have rejected me;

you have turned your backs on me.

So I stretched out my hand and crushed you

because I was tired of controlling my anger.^s

⁷In every town in the land

I threw you to the wind like straw.

I destroyed you, my people,

I killed your children

because you did not stop your evil ways.

⁸There are more widows in your land

than grains of sand by the sea.

I killed your young men in their prime

and made their mothers suffer.

I suddenly struck them

with anguish and terror.

⁹The mother who lost her seven children has fainted,

gasping for breath.

Her daylight has turned to darkness;

she is disgraced and sick at heart.

I will let your enemies kill

those of you who are still alive.

I, the Lord, have spoken.”