Jeremiah 15

1 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to me: “Even if Moses [the Israelite leader] and Samuel [Shemuel, a judge and prophet] should stand [to stand in a strong sense, like in a position of intercession] before Me, My heart [soul, the essence of a person] would not go out [to have affection or compassion] to this people [a nation, the Israelites]. Send [to send or depart] them from My presence [face, being in front of someone], and let them go [to come out, depart from My sight]. word study 2 If they ask you, ‘Where [to what place or destination] shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: ‘Those destined [appointed or ordained] for death [physical or spiritual separation], to death; those destined for the sword [war or violent conflict], to the sword; those destined for famine [hunger or scarcity], to famine; and those destined for captivity [exile or bondage], to captivity [a state of being held prisoner].’ word study 3 I will appoint [assign, designate] over them four kinds [divisions, categories] of destroyers, declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]: the sword [cutting instrument, weapon] to kill [slay, destroy], the dogs [despised ones, scavengers] to drag away [tear, pull], and the birds [fowl, winged creatures] of the air [heaven, sky] and beasts [animals, wild creatures] of the earth [land, ground] to devour [eat, consume] and destroy [ruin, annihilate]. word study 4 I will make them a [great, utter] horror [trembling, dread] to all [every, the whole] the kingdoms [nations, dominions] of the earth [land, world] because of [on account of, due to] what Manasseh [the king who turned to idolatry] son of Hezekiah king of Judah [a tribe of Israel, the southern kingdom] did [committed, performed] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah]. word study 5 Who [will have compassion, show mercy] will have pity [spare, have mercy] on you, O Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine]? Who [is willing to mourn, lament] will mourn [bewail, lament] for you? Who [is willing to turn aside, go out of their way] will turn aside [depart, go away] to ask [inquire, seek information] about your welfare [peace, well-being, shalom]? word study 6 You [the one I address directly] have forsaken [rejected, left] Me, declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. You have turned your back [gone backward, walked away]. So I will stretch out [extend, spread out] My hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] against you and I will destroy [ruin, corrupt] you; I am weary [tired, disgusted] of showing compassion [having pity, being sorry, to comfort]. word study 7 I will scatter [with a winnowing fork, fan] them with a winnowing fork at the gates [city entrances, doors] of the land [earth, country]. I will bereave [leave barren, without children] and destroy [perish, lose] My people [nation, tribe] who have not turned [return, come back] from their ways [paths, manner of life]. word study 8 I will make their widows [more numerous than the sand of the seas, increased beyond measure] more numerous than the sand [round or whirling particles] of the sea. I will bring a destroyer [one who ruins or devastates, a spoiler] at noon [midday, when the sun is highest] against the mothers [female parents, maternal figures] of young men [chosen or select individuals, in their prime]. I will suddenly [happening quickly, without warning] bring upon them anguish [deep sorrow, pain] and dismay [panic or destruction, caused by terror]. word study 9 The mother [bearer of seven, a woman who has given birth to seven children] of seven will grow faint [become weak, languish]; she will breathe her last breath [give up the ghost, expire]. Her sun [source of life, vitality] will set while it is still day [in the midst of her life, prematurely]; she will be disgraced [ashamed, put to shame] and humiliated [confounded, brought low]. And the rest [remnant, remaining ones] I will put to the sword [deliver to destruction, give over to death] in the presence of their enemies [before those who hate them],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]. word study 10 Woe [alas, oh no] to me, my mother [female parent, maternal figure], that you have borne [given birth to] me, a man [male person, individual] of strife [dispute, quarrel] and conflict [contention, argument] in all [every part of] the land [earth, country]. I have neither lent [given with expectation of return, loaned] nor borrowed [received with promise to repay], yet everyone [all people, each person] curses [brings into contempt, reviles] me. word study 11 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said: “Surely I will deliver [set free, rescue] you for a good [beneficial, pleasant] purpose; surely I will intercede [make supplication, intervene] with your enemy [adversary, one who hates] in your time [season, occasion] of trouble [distress, affliction], in your time [season, occasion] of distress [adversity, vexation]. word study 12 Can anyone [be able to, have the power to] smash [break, shatter] iron [strong metal]— iron [northern iron] from the north [Zaphon, a direction or location]—or [even, including] bronze [copper, something base or common]? word study 13 Your [inner strength, might] wealth and your [stored riches, treasure house] treasures I will give up [surrender, hand over] as [spoils of war] plunder, without [any payment, freely] charge [price, reward] for all [every, each] your sins [guilt, punishment] within [throughout, in every part] all [every, entire] your borders [boundaries, territories]. word study 14 Then I will enslave [make you captive, subjugate] you to your enemies [adversaries, those who oppose you] in a land [country, territory] you do not know [are unfamiliar with, have not experienced], for My anger [wrath, indignation] will kindle [ignite, start] a fire [flame, burning passion] that will burn [consume, blaze] against you [upon you, over you].” word study 15 You [are aware] understand, O LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God]; remember [to recall, mark] me and attend to [visit, oversee] me. Avenge [to punish, take vengeance] me against my persecutors [those who pursue, chase after me]. In Your patience [longsuffering, slow to anger], do not take me away. Know [to ascertain, be aware] that I endure [suffer, bear] reproach [shame, scorn] for Your honor [sake, reputation]. word study 16 Your words [divine messages, utterances] were found [discovered, uncovered], and I ate [devoured, consumed] them. Your words [divine declarations, promises] became my joy [delight, gladness] and my heart’s [innermost being, soul] delight [rejoicing, celebration]. For I bear [carry, represent] Your name [reputation, character], O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] God of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 17 I never sat [did not dwell or remain] with the band of revelers [mockers, those who laugh in contempt], nor did I celebrate [rejoice, exult] with them. Because Your hand [power, direction] was on me, I sat alone [in isolation, separated], for You have filled me with indignation [intense anger, fury, a strong sense of displeasure]. word study 18 Why is my pain [perpetual, unending] unending, and my wound incurable [desperate], refusing [to say no, to reject] to be healed [to mend, to cure]? You have indeed become like [as, similar to] a mirage [a deception, an illusion] to me— water [a source of refreshment, a symbol of life] that is not [absent, nonexistent] there [present, available]. word study 19 Therefore this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “If you return [to faithfulness, turn back], I will restore [bring back, reinstate] you; you will stand [be established, take your place] in My presence [before Me, in My face]. And if you speak words that are noble [precious, of great value] instead of worthless [vile, morally loose], you will be My spokesman [My mouth, My messenger]. It is they who must turn to you [come back, return], but you must not turn to them [follow, obey]. word study 20 Then I will make you a wall [strong and fortified, a brazen bulwark] to this people, a fortified [fenced, secure] wall of bronze [copper]; they will fight [wage war, contend] against you but will not overcome [prevail, defeat] you, for I am with you [by your side, in your midst] to save [rescue, deliver] and deliver [preserve, protect] you, declares [utters, proclaims] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 21 I will deliver [rescue, snatch away] you from the hand [power, direction] of the wicked [bad, evil] and redeem [ransom, set free] you from the grasp [palm, firm hold] of the ruthless [fearful, awe-inspiring, having great power].” word study