Jeremiah 15:5-9

New International Reader's Version

⁵ “Jerusalem, who will have pity on you?
    Who will mourn for you?
    Who will stop to ask how you are doing?
⁶ You have said no to me,”
    announces the Lord.
    “You keep on turning away from me.
So I will reach out and destroy you.
    I am tired of showing you pity.
⁷ I will stand at the city gates of the land.
    I will separate the straw from the grain.
I will destroy my people. I will bring great sorrow on them.
    They have not changed their ways.
⁸ I will increase the number of their widows.
    There will be more of them than the grains of sand on the seashore.
At noon I will bring a destroyer
    against the mothers of the young men among my people.
All at once I will bring down on them
    great suffering and terror.
⁹ Mothers who have many children will grow weak.
    They will take their last breath.
The sun will set on them while it is still day.
    They will be dishonored and put to shame.
All those who are left alive I will kill by swords.
    I will have their enemies do this,”
    announces the Lord.