Jeremiah 15:10-21 - Jeremiah's Lament And Yahweh's Response
10 O mother, alas that ever thou didst bear me, an enemy and hated of the whole land: Though I never lent nor received upon usury, yet all men speak evil upon me.
11 And the LORD answered me, "Lead not I thee then unto good? Come not I to thee, when thou art in trouble? And help thee, when thine enemy oppresseth thee? 12 Doth one iron hurt another, or one metal that cometh from the North, another? 13 As for your riches and treasure, I will give them out into a prey; not for any money, but because of all your sins, that ye have done in all your coasts. 14 And I will bring you with your enemies into a land that ye know not: for the fire that is kindled in my indignation, shall burn you up."
15 "O LORD," said I then, "thou knowest all things. Therefore remember me, and visit me, deliver me from my persecutors: Receive not my cause in thy long wrath; yet thou knowest, that for thy sake I suffer rebuke. 16 When I had found thy words, I ate them up greedily: they have made my heart joyful and glad, for I call upon thy name, O LORD God of Hosts. 17 I dwell not among the council of scorners, neither is my delight therein: but I dwell only in the fear of thy hand, for thou hast filled me with bitterness. 18 Shall my heaviness endure forever? Are my plagues then so great, that they may never be healed? Wilt thou be as a water that faileth, and cannot continue?"
19 Upon these words, thus said the LORD unto me, "If thou wilt turn again, I shall set thee in my service: and if thou wilt take out the thing that is precious from the vile, thou shalt be even as mine own mouth. They shall convert unto thee, but turn not thou unto them: 20 and so shall I make thee a strong wall of steel against this people. They shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail. For I myself will be with thee, to help thee, and deliver thee, sayeth the LORD. 21 And I will rid thee out of the hands of the wicked, and deliver thee out of the hand of Tyrants."