Even Moses and Samuel
Not even Moses or Samuel could turn this away, our Father says. Jeremiah breaks under it, cursing his birth and asking whether his Father has become a stream that dries up. The reply is conditional: return, speak what is precious, and be made a bronze wall.
15 1Then our Father told me: "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my heart wouldn't turn toward this people. Send them from my presence; let them go." 2When they ask you, "Where do we go?" tell them, "This is what our Father says: those for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for famine, to famine; those for captivity, to captivity."
3"I will appoint four kinds of destroyers against them, declares our Father: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the birds of the sky and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4I will make them a horror to all earth's kingdoms, because of Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem."
5"For who will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will mourn for you? Who will even stop to ask how you are? 6You have rejected me, declares our Father; you keep going backward. So I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you—I am weary of relenting. 7I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork at the gates of the land. I have bereaved them; I have destroyed my people, for they would not turn from their ways. a a v7 Winnowing: a farmer tossed threshed grain into the air so the wind blew away the useless chaff, leaving only the grain. 8Their widows became more numerous than the sand of the seas. Against the mothers of young men I brought a destroyer at noon; suddenly I made anguish and terror fall upon her. 9She who bore seven grows frail; she breathes her last. Her sun has set while it is still day; she is ashamed and disgraced. And the rest of them I will give to the sword before their enemies, declares our Father."
Jeremiah Cries out in Anguish
10Woe to me, my mother, that you bore me—a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet everyone curses me.
11Our Father said: "I will rescue you for good; I will make the enemy plead with you in times of trouble and distress." 12Can anyone break iron—iron from the north—and bronze? 13"Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, at no cost, because of all your sins throughout your territory. 14I will make you serve your enemies in a land you do not know, for a fire blazes in my anger; it will burn against you."
15You know, my Father; remember me and care for me, and bring justice for me against my persecutors. Have patience with me, and do not take me away; know that for your sake I bear reproach. 16Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became my joy and the delight of my heart, for I bear your name, O Father of heaven's armies. 17I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; because of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. 18Why is my pain unending and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like waters that fail?
19So our Father says: If you return, I will restore you to stand before me. If you bring out what is precious, not the worthless, you will be my mouth. They will turn to you, but you must not turn to them. 20I will make you a fortified wall of bronze against this people; they will fight against you but will not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares our Father. 21"I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless."
