1-2. Then God said to me: “Jeremiah, even if Moses and Samuel stood here and made their case, I wouldn’t feel a thing for this people. Get them out of here. Tell them to get lost! And if they ask you, ‘So where do we go?’ tell them God says,“‘If you’re assigned to die, go and die;if assigned to war, go and get killed;If assigned to starve, go starve;if assigned to exile, off to exile you go!’
10-11. Unlucky mother—that you had me as a son,given the unhappy job of indicting the whole country!I’ve never hurt or harmed a soul,and yet everyone is out to get me.But, God knows, I’ve done everything I could to help them,prayed for them and against their enemies.I’ve always been on their side, trying to stave off disaster.God knows how I’ve tried!
12-14. “O Israel, O Judah, what are your chancesagainst the iron juggernaut from the north?In punishment for your sins, I’m giving awayeverything you’ve got, giving it away for nothing.I’ll make you slaves to your enemiesin a strange and far-off land.My anger is blazing and fierce,burning in hot judgment against you.”