9 The mother of seven grows faint and gasps for breath;her sun has gone down while it is still day.She sits childless now,disgraced and humiliated.And I will hand over those who are leftto be killed by the enemy.I, the lord, have spoken!”
10 Then I said,“What sorrow is mine, my mother.Oh, that I had died at birth!I am hated everywhere I go.I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclosenor a borrower who refuses to pay—yet they all curse me.”
11 The lord replied,“I will take care of you, Jeremiah.Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalfin times of trouble and distress.
12 Can a man break a bar of iron from the north,or a bar of bronze?
13 At no cost to them,I will hand over your wealth and treasuresas plunder to your enemies,for sin runs rampant in your land.
14 I will tell your enemies to take youas captives to a foreign land.For my anger blazes like a firethat will burn forever.”
15 Then I said,“lord, you know what’s happening to me.Please step in and help me. Punish my persecutors!Please give me time; don’t let me die young.It’s for your sake that I am suffering.