15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Mosesx and Samuely were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.z Send them away from my presence!a Let them go! 2 And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“ ‘Those destined for death, to death;

those for the sword, to the sword;b

those for starvation, to starvation;c

those for captivity, to captivity.’d

3 “I will send four kinds of destroyerse against them,” declares the Lord, “the swordf to kill and the dogsg to drag away and the birdsh and the wild animals to devour and destroy.i 4 I will make them abhorrentj to all the kingdoms of the earthk because of what Manassehl son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

5 “Who will have pitym on you, Jerusalem?

Who will mourn for you?

Who will stop to ask how you are?

6 You have rejectedn me,” declares the Lord.

“You keep on backsliding.

So I will reach outo and destroy you;

I am tired of holding back.p

7 I will winnowq them with a winnowing fork

at the city gates of the land.

I will bring bereavementr and destruction on my people,s

for they have not changed their ways.t

8 I will make their widowsu more numerous

than the sand of the sea.

At midday I will bring a destroyerv

against the mothers of their young men;

suddenly I will bring down on them

anguish and terror.w

9 The mother of seven will grow faintx

and breathe her last.y

Her sun will set while it is still day;

she will be disgracedz and humiliated.

I will put the survivors to the sworda

before their enemies,”b

declares the Lord.

10 Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,c

a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!d

I have neither lente nor borrowed,

yet everyone cursesf me.

11 The Lord said,

“Surely I will deliver youg for a good purpose;

surely I will make your enemies pleadh with you

in times of disaster and times of distress.

12 “Can a man break iron—

iron from the northi—or bronze?

13 “Your wealthj and your treasures

I will give as plunder,k without charge,l

because of all your sins

throughout your country.m

14 I will enslave you to your enemies

ina a land you do not know,n

for my anger will kindle a fireo

that will burn against you.”

15 Lord, you understand;

remember me and care for me.

Avenge me on my persecutors.p

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

think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.r

16 When your words came, I ates them;

they were my joy and my heart’s delight,t

for I bear your name,u

Lord God Almighty.

17 I never satv in the company of revelers,

never made merry with them;

I sat alone because your handw was on me

and you had filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain unending

and my wound grievous and incurable?x

You are to me like a deceptive brook,

like a spring that fails.y

19 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“If you repent, I will restore you

that you may servez me;

if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,

you will be my spokesman.a

Let this people turn to you,

but you must not turn to them.

20 I will make you a wallb to this people,

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you

but will not overcomec you,

for I am with you

to rescue and save you,”d

declares the Lord.

21 “I will savee you from the hands of the wickedf

and deliverg you from the grasp of the cruel.”h