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The Coming Destruction

17 Pack your bags and prepare to leave;
    the siege is about to begin.
18 For this is what the Lord says:
“Suddenly, I will fling out
    all you who live in this land.
I will pour great troubles upon you,
    and at last you will feel my anger.”

19 My wound is severe,
    and my grief is great.
My sickness is incurable,
    but I must bear it.
20 My home is gone,
    and no one is left to help me rebuild it.
My children have been taken away,
    and I will never see them again.
21 The shepherds of my people have lost their senses.
    They no longer seek wisdom from the Lord.
Therefore, they fail completely,
    and their flocks are scattered.
22 Listen! Hear the terrifying roar of great armies
    as they roll down from the north.
The towns of Judah will be destroyed
    and become a haunt for jackals.

Jeremiah’s Prayer

23 I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.
    We are not able to plan our own course.
24 So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle.
    Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.
25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you—
    on the peoples that do not call upon your name.
For they have devoured your people Israel[a];
    they have devoured and consumed them,
    making the land a desolate wilderness.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:25 Hebrew devoured Jacob. See note on 5:20.

Coming Destruction

17 Gather up your belongings(A) to leave the land,
    you who live under siege.
18 For this is what the Lord says:
    “At this time I will hurl(B) out
    those who live in this land;
I will bring distress(C) on them
    so that they may be captured.”

19 Woe to me because of my injury!
    My wound(D) is incurable!
Yet I said to myself,
    “This is my sickness, and I must endure(E) it.”
20 My tent(F) is destroyed;
    all its ropes are snapped.
My children are gone from me and are no more;(G)
    no one is left now to pitch my tent
    or to set up my shelter.
21 The shepherds(H) are senseless(I)
    and do not inquire of the Lord;(J)
so they do not prosper(K)
    and all their flock is scattered.(L)
22 Listen! The report is coming—
    a great commotion from the land of the north!(M)
It will make the towns of Judah desolate,(N)
    a haunt of jackals.(O)

Jeremiah’s Prayer

23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.(P)
24 Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—
    not in your anger,(Q)
    or you will reduce me to nothing.(R)
25 Pour out your wrath on the nations(S)
    that do not acknowledge you,
    on the peoples who do not call on your name.(T)
For they have devoured(U) Jacob;
    they have devoured him completely
    and destroyed his homeland.(V)

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