Jeremiah 15:15-21

Context

15:15 I said,¹

“Lord, you know how I suffer.²

Take thought of me and care for me.

Pay back for me those who have been persecuting me.

Do not be so patient with them that you allow them to kill me.

Be mindful of how I have put up with their insults for your sake.

15:16 As your words came to me I drank them in,³

and they filled my heart with joy and happiness

because I belong to you.⁴

15:17 I did not spend my time in the company of other people,

laughing and having a good time.

I stayed to myself because I felt obligated to you⁵

and because I was filled with anger at what they had done.

15:18 Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish?

Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound?

Will you let me down when I need you

like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?”⁶

15:19 Because of this, the Lord said,⁷

“You must repent of such words and thoughts!

If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me.⁸

If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless,

I will again allow you to be my spokesman.⁹

They must become as you have been.

You must not become like them.¹⁰

15:20 I will make you as strong as a wall to these people,

a fortified wall of bronze.

They will attack you,

but they will not be able to overcome you.

For I will be with you to rescue you and deliver you,”¹¹

says the Lord.

15:21 “I will deliver you from the power of the wicked.

I will free you from the clutches of violent people.”

[15:15] ¹tn The words “I said” are not in the text. They are supplied in the translation for clarity to mark the shift from the Lord speaking to Jerusalem, to Jeremiah speaking to God.

[15:15] ²tn The words “how I suffer” are not in the text but are implicit from the continuation. They are supplied in the translation for clarity. Jeremiah is not saying “you are all knowing.”

[15:16] ³sn Heb “Your words were found and I ate them.” This along with Ezek 2:8–3:3 is a poetic picture of inspiration. The prophet accepted them, assimilated them, and made them such a part of himself that he spoke with complete assurance what he knew were God’s words.

[15:16] ⁴tn Heb “Your name is called upon me.”

[15:17] ⁵tn Heb “because of your hand.”

[15:18] ⁶tn Heb “Will you be to me like a deceptive (brook), like waters which do not last [or are not reliable].”

[15:19] ⁷tn Heb “So the Lord said thus.”

[15:19] ⁸tn Heb “If you return [ = repent], I will restore [more literally, ‘cause you to return’] that you may stand before me.” For the idiom of “standing before” in the sense of serving see BDB 764 s.v. עָמַד Qal.1.e and compare the usage in 1 Kgs 10:8; 12:8; 17:1; Deut 10:8.

[15:19] ⁹tn Heb “you shall be as my mouth.”

[15:19] ¹⁰tn Heb “They must turn/return to you and you must not turn/return to them.”

[15:20] ¹¹sn See 1:18. The Lord renews his promise of protection and reiterates his call to Jeremiah.