Jeremiah 15:2-9

2They may ask you, “Where should we go?” Then tell them, “This is what the Lord says: Those who should become ill and die will die. Those who should die in war will die in war. Those who should die from famine will die from famine. Those who should go away as prisoners will go away as prisoners.”

3I will send four kinds of punishments to hurt them. Soldiers will kill them in war. Dogs will carry away their dead bodies. Birds and wild animals will eat them and destroy them.

4I will cause the people of all nations to think that the people of Judah are disgusting. That will be because of the evil things that the king of Judah, Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, did in Jerusalem.’

5The Lord said, ‘People of Jerusalem, nobody will feel sorry for you. Nobody will weep for you. Nobody will stop to ask how you are.

6I tell you this: You have turned away from me. You continue to go further away from me. So I will prepare to use my power to destroy you. I can no longer be kind to you.

7I will punish the people of every town in the land. I will blow them away, like wind blows away straw. My people have refused to change the way that they live. So I will destroy them and their children too.

8There will be more widows in Judah, than there is sand on the shore of the sea. At midday I will send an enemy to destroy the young men. Their mothers will weep for them. It will happen very suddenly. Fear and terror will come!

9A mother will feel very weak, because all her seven children have died. It is difficult for her even to breathe. She has lost the children that made her happy, while they were still young. She will be ashamed and without honour. I will send your enemies to kill any of your people who are still alive.’ That is what the Lord says.