Jeremiah 15:10-21

101Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me As a 2man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not 3lent, nor have men lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.11The Lord said, “Surely I will 4set you free for purposes of good; Surely I will cause the 5enemy to make supplication to you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

12“Can anyone smash iron, 6Iron from the north, or bronze?13Your 7wealth and your treasures I will give for booty 8without cost, Even for all your sins And within all your borders.14Then I will cause your enemies to bring 9it Into a 10land you do not know; For a 11fire has been kindled in My anger, It will burn upon you.”

1512You who know, O Lord, Remember me, take notice of me, And 13take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that 14for Your sake I endure reproach.16Your words were found and I 15ate them, And Your 16words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been 17called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.17I 18did not sit in the circle of merrymakers, Nor did I exult. Because of Your hand upon me I sat 19alone, For You 20filled me with indignation.18Why has my pain been perpetual And my 21wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me 22like a deceptive stream With water that is unreliable?

19Therefore, thus says the Lord, “23If you return, then I will restore you-- 24Before Me you will stand; And 25if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become 26My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, But as for you, you must not turn to them.20Then I will 27make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For 28I am with you to save you And deliver you,” declares the Lord.21“So I will 29deliver you from the hand of the wicked, And I will 30redeem you from the 31grasp of the violent.”