Jeremiah 15:15–18

O Lord, you know;

remember me and visit me,

and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance take me not away;

know that for your sake I bear reproach.

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.

I did not sit in the company of revelers,

nor did I rejoice;

I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

for you had filled me with indignation.

Why is my pain unceasing,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail?

Lord, you understand;

remember me and care for me.

Avenge me on my persecutors.

You are long-suffering—do not take me away;

think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.

When your words came, I ate them;

they were my joy and my heart’s delight,

for I bear your name,

Lord God Almighty.

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.

Why is my pain unending

and my wound grievous and incurable?

You are to me like a deceptive brook,

like a spring that fails.

You know, Lord;

remember me and take note of me.

Avenge me against my persecutors.

In your patience, don’t take me away.

Know that I suffer disgrace for your honor.

Your words were found, and I ate them.

Your words became a delight to me

and the joy of my heart,

for I bear your name,

Lord God of Armies.

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.

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.

Then I said,

“Lord, you know what’s happening to me.

Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors!

Please give me time; don’t let me die young.

It’s for your sake that I am suffering.

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.

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.

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.”

You who know, O Yahweh, remember me, and attend to me,

and take revenge for me against my persecutors in your forbearance.

You must take me away.

Know that I am carrying disgrace because of you.

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.

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.

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.

O Lord, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke. 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. 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. 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?