Jeremiah

¹ Then God said to me: "Jeremiah, even if Moses and Samuel stood here and made their case, I wouldn't feel a thing for this people. Get them out of here. Tell them to get lost!

² " 'If you're assigned to die, go and die; if assigned to war, go and get killed; If assigned to starve, go starve; if assigned to exile, off to exile you go!'

³ "I've arranged for four kinds of punishment: death in battle, the corpses dropped off by killer dogs, the rest picked clean by vultures, the bones gnawed by hyenas.

⁴ They'll be a sight to see, a sight to shock the whole world—and all because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah and all he did in Jerusalem.

⁵ Who do you think will waste tears on you? Who will bother to take the time to ask, 'So, how are things going?'

⁶ "You turned your back and walked out. So I will grab you and hit you hard. I'm tired of letting you off the hook.

⁷ and let the winds scatter you like leaves. I made sure you'll lose everything, since nothing makes you change.

⁸ than grains of sand on the ocean beaches. At noon mothers will get the news of their sons killed in action. Sudden anguish for the mothers— all those terrible deaths.

⁹ gasping for breath, Robbed of her children in their prime. Her sun sets at high noon! Then I'll round up any of you that are left alive and see that you're killed by your enemies." God's Decree.

¹⁰ given the unhappy job of indicting the whole country! I've never hurt or harmed a soul, and yet everyone is out to get me.

¹¹ prayed for them and against their enemies. I've always been on their side, trying to stave off disaster. God knows how I've tried!

¹² against the iron juggernaut from the north?

¹³ everything you've got, giving it away for nothing.

¹⁴ in a strange and far-off land. My anger is blazing and fierce, burning in hot judgment against you."

¹⁵ Take my side against my detractors. Don't stand back while they ruin me. Just look at the abuse I'm taking!

¹⁶ swallowed them whole. What a feast! What delight I took in being yours, O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!

¹⁷ in their laughter and their fun. Led by you, I went off by myself. You'd filled me with indignation. Their sin had me seething.

¹⁸ this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight? You're nothing, God, but a mirage, a lovely oasis in the distance—and then nothing!

¹⁹ "Take back those words, and I'll take you back. Then you'll stand tall before me. Use words truly and well. Don't stoop to cheap whining. Then, but only then, you'll speak for me. Let your words change them. Don't change your words to suit them.

²⁰ a thick steel wall, impregnable. They'll attack you but won't put a dent in you because I'm at your side, defending and delivering." God's Decree.

²¹ I'll get you out of the clutch of the ruthless."