Jeremiah, 15

1. Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth.

1. Yahweh answered me, "Even if Moses and Samuel came in person to plead for this people, my heart would have no pity. Send them away from my presence! Let them go!

2. And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.

2. And if they say: "Where shall we go?" tell them: Yahweh says this: Those destined for the plague, to the plague; for the sword, to the sword; for starvation, to starvation; those for captivity, to captivity.

3. And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

3. For I shall send them four kinds of destroyers: the sword to slay, dogs to ravage, birds of the sky and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy.

4. And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem.

4. I shall make them an object of horror for all the kingdoms of the world because of what Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.

5. For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?

5. Who will take pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will feel sorry for you? Who will turn to ask how you are?

6. Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

6. It was you who rejected me - word of Yahweh - you turned your back on me, and because of that I have stretched out my hand to destroy you. I was weary of showing mercy!

7. And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave [them] of children, I will destroy my people, [since] they return not from their ways.

7. I winnowed them with a fork in the cities of the land, I left my people without children; I brought them to ruin, but they did not change their ways.

8. Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused [him] to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

8. Their widows are more numerous than the sand of the seas. On the mothers of young men I have brought a destroyer who ravages in broad daylight. Suddenly terror and fear grips them.

9. She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while [it was] yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

9. The mother who had seven sons is confused and discouraged as if breathing her last. Although it is still day her sun has set. As for those who remain, I shall let them be slain by the sword in sight of their enemies - it is Yahweh who speaks.

10. Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.

10. Woe is me, Mother, why did you bring me to the light? A man of dissension throughout the land! I owe them nothing, neither do they owe me, yet they all curse me!

11. The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee [well] in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

11. Tell me Yahweh, if I have not served you well! Did I not plead with you for my enemies in the time of their shame and disgrace?

12. Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?

12. Can you break iron that comes from the north, or bronze?

13. Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and [that] for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

13. I will let your wealth and your treasures be handed over to plunderers, not for a price but because of all your sins within your frontiers.

14. And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you.

14. You shall be slaves of your enemies among a people you do not know, for the fury of my anger is on fire and will burn you up."

15. 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.

15. You know I have, Yahweh! Take care of me, defend me; take vengeance on my persecutors. Remember! For you I have suffered great humiliations.

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.

16. I devoured your words when they came. They were my happiness and I felt full of joy when you made your Name rest on me. Never did I associate with worldly people,

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.

17. amusing myself with scoffers! When your hand was upon me I stood apart and you filled me with your anger.

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?

18. Why is there no end to my sorrow or healing for my wound? Why do you deceive me, and why does my spring suddenly dry up?

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.

19. Then Yahweh spoke to me, "If you return I will take you back and you will serve me again. Draw the gold from the dross and you will be as my own mouth. You must draw them to you and not go over to them.

20. And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I [am] with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

20. I will make you a fortress and a wall of bronze facing them; if they fight against you they will not overcome you;

21. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

21. I am with you to free you and save you. I will redeem you from the wicked and free you from the hands of tyrants."