1 Then the LORD said to me, "Though Moses and Samuel were to stand before me, my soul would not go out to this people. Send them away from my presence, and let them go out.
2 And when they say to you, 'Where should we go?' tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: Whoever is for death, to death; whoever is for the sword, to the sword; whoever is for famine, to famine; whoever is for captivity, to captivity.'
3 I will appoint over them four families," declares the LORD: "the sword to kill, dogs to drag off, and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth to eat and to destroy.
4 I will make them a horror to every kingdom of the earth because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
5 Who will show you compassion, Jerusalem, or who will mourn for you? Who will turn aside to ask how you are?
6 You have cast me off," declares the LORD; "backward you keep going. So I have stretched out my hand against you and ruined you; I am tired of relenting.
7 I have winnowed them with a fork in the gates of the land; I have made them childless; I have destroyed my people; from their ways they did not turn back.
8 Their widows have become more to me than the sand of the seas; I have brought on them, against the mother of young men, a destroyer at midday; I have made agitation and terrors fall on her suddenly.
9 The mother of seven grows faint; she has breathed out her soul; her sun has set while it was still day; she is ashamed and humiliated. And what is left of them I will give to the sword before their enemies," declares the LORD.
10 Woe to me, my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man of strife and a man of quarrel to all the land! I have not lent, and they have not lent to me, yet every one of them curses me.
11 The LORD said, "Surely I will release you for good; surely I will make the enemy entreat you in the time of evil and in the time of trouble.
12 Can anyone break iron, iron from the north, or bronze?
13 Your riches and your treasures I will hand over as plunder, not for a price, for all your sins, in all your borders.
14 I will make you pass over with your enemies into a land you do not know; for fire has been lit in my anger; against you it will burn."
15 You know, O LORD; remember me and attend to me, and avenge me on those who pursue me. Do not, in your slowness to anger, take me away; know that for your sake I bear insult.
16 Your words were found, and I devoured them; your word was to me a delight and the joy of my heart, for your name is called upon me, O LORD God of hosts.
17 I have not sat in the circle of those who make merry, nor have I exulted; because of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why has my pain become endless and my wound incurable, refusing healing? You are truly to me like a deceptive brook, like waters that are not reliable.
19 So thus says the LORD: "If you turn back, I will restore you, and before me you will stand; if you bring out what is precious from what is worthless, you will be as my mouth. Let them turn to you, but you are not to turn to them.
20 I will make you for this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will make war on you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you and rescue you," declares the LORD.
21 "I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked and ransom you from the palm of the ruthless."