Judah’s Inevitable Doom

15 Then the LORD said to me, “Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I wouldn’t help them. Away with them! Get them out of my sight! 2 And if they say to you, ‘But where can we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: those who are destined for captivity, to captivity.’ 3 “I will send four kinds of destroyers against them,” says the LORD. “I will send the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, the vultures to devour, and the wild animals to finish up what is left. 4 Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make my people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 5 “Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem? Who will even bother to ask how you are? 6 You have abandoned me I am tired of always giving you another chance. 7 I will winnow you like grain at the gates of your cities because they refuse to change their evil ways. 8 There will be more widows to come upon them suddenly. 9 The mother of seven grows faint and gasps for breath; I, the LORD, have spoken!” 10 Then I said, yet they all curse me.” 11 The LORD replied, in 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, for sin runs rampant in your land. 14 I will tell your enemies to take you that will burn forever.” 15 Then I said, It’s for your sake that I am suffering. 16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies. 17 I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I was filled with indignation at their sins. 18 Why then does my suffering continue? like a spring that has gone dry.” 19 This is how the LORD responds: do not let them influence you! 20 They will fight against you like an attacking army, I, the LORD, have spoken! 21 Yes, I will certainly keep you safe from these wicked men. I will rescue you from their cruel hands.”