Jeremiah

JEREMIAH 15:10
Jeremiah Complains to God Again
10 Mother, I am sorry
that you gave birth to me.
I am the one who must accuse
and criticize the whole land.
I have not loaned or borrowed anything,
but everyone curses me.
11 Surely, Lord, I have served you well.
In times of disaster and trouble, I prayed
to you about my enemies.
God Answers Jeremiah
12 “ Jeremiah, you know that no one
can shatter a piece of iron.
I mean the kind of iron that is from the
north. a
And no one can shatter a piece of
bronze either.
13 The people of Judah* have many treasures.
I will give these riches to other people.
They will not have to buy them,
because Judah has many sins.
The people sinned in every part of
Judah.
14 People of Judah, I will make you slaves of
your enemies.
You will be slaves in a land that you
never knew.
I am very angry.
My anger is like a hot fire,
and you will be burned.”
15 Lord, you understand me.
Remember me and take care of me.
People are hurting me.
Give them the punishment they
deserve.
You are being patient with them.
But don’t destroy me while you remain
patient with them.
Think about me.
Think about the pain I suffer for you.
16 Your words came to me, and I ate them
up.
They made me very happy.
I was glad to be called by your name,
Lord All-Powerful.
17 I never sat with the crowd
as they laughed and had fun.
I sat by myself because of your influence
on me.
You filled me with anger at the evil
around me.
18 I don’t understand why I still hurt.
I don’t understand why my wound is
not cured and cannot be healed.
I think you have changed.
You are like a spring of water that
became dry.
You are like a spring whose water has
stopped flowing.
a 15:12 north The Babylonian army came from this
direction to attack Judah. Armies from countries
north and east of Israel often came this way to
attack Judah and Israel.
614
19 Then the Lord said, “Jeremiah, if you
change and come back to me,
I will not punish you.
If you change and come back to me,
then you may serve me.
If you speak important things, not
worthless words,
then you may speak for me.
The people of Judah should change
and come back to you.
But don’t you change and be like them.
20 I will make you strong.
The people will think you are strong,
like a wall made of bronze.
The people of Judah will fight against you,
but they will not defeat you.
They will not defeat you,
because I am with you.
I will help you, and I will save you.”
This message is from the Lord.
21 “ I will save you from these evil people.
They frighten you, but I will save you
from them.”
The Day of Disaster
16 1The Lord’s message came to me:
2“Jeremiah, you must not get married.
You must not have sons or daughters in this
place.”
3This is what the Lord says about the sons
and daughters who are born in the land of
Judah* and about their mothers and fathers:
4“They will die from terrible diseases. And
no one will cry for them or bury them. Their
bodies will lie on the ground like dung. Or
they will die in war or starve to death. Their
dead bodies will be food for the birds of the
sky and the wild animals of the earth.”
5So the Lord says, “Jeremiah, don’t go into
a house where people are eating a funeral
meal. Don’t go there to cry for the dead or
to show your sorrow. Don’t do these things,
because I have taken back my blessing. I will
not be kind to the people of Judah. I will not
feel sorry for them.” This message is from the
Lord.
6“Important people and common people
will die in the land of Judah. No one will bury
them or cry for them. No one will cut himself
or shave his head to show sorrow for them.
7No one will bring food to those who are crying
for the dead. No one will comfort those
whose mother or father has died. No one will
offer a drink to comfort those who are crying
for the dead.
8“Jeremiah, don’t go into a house where
the people are having a party. Don’t go into
that house and sit down to eat and drink.
9This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God
of Israel* says: I will soon stop the sounds
of people having fun. I will stop the happy
sounds of people enjoying a wedding party.
This will happen during your lifetime. I will
do these things very soon.