Jeremiah 15:19-21

15:19 Because of this, the Lord said, ¹ 

“You must repent of such words and thoughts!

If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me. ² 

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

I will again allow you to be my spokesman. ³ 

They must become as you have been.

You must not become like them. ⁴ 

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,” ⁵ 

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.”

[15:19]  ¹ tn Heb “So the Lord said thus.”

[15:19]  ² tn 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]  ³ tn Heb “you shall be as my mouth.”

[15:19]  ⁴ tn Heb “They must turn/return to you and you must not turn/return to them.”

[15:20]  ⁵ sn See 1:18. The Lord renews his promise of protection and reiterates his call to Jeremiah.