<p class="poetry">Correct us, <sc>Lordsc>, but only in due measure.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not punish us in anger or you will reduce us to nothing.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">And I cried out,<n id="1" /> &#8220;We are doomed!<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Our wound is severe!p> <p class="poetry">We once thought, &#8216;This is only an illness.p> <p class="poetry">And we will be able to bear it!&#8217;<n id="3" />p>

But listen to what I say to you and to all these people.<n id="1" />

This will happen because the people of Israel and Judah have repeatedly done what displeases me<n id="1" /> from their earliest history until now<n id="2" /> and because they<n id="3" /> have repeatedly made me angry by the things they have done.<n id="4" /> I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!<n id="5" />

<p class="poetry">you say, &#8216;I have not done anything wrong,p> <p class="poetry">so the <sc>Lordsc> cannot really be angry with me any more.&#8217;p> <p class="poetry">But, watch out!<n id="1" /> I will bring down judgment on youp> <p class="poetry">because you say, &#8216;I have not committed any sin.&#8217;p>

<p class="poetry">I thought, &#8220;Surely it is only the ignorant poor who act this way.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">They act like fools because they do not know what the <sc>Lordsc> demands.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">They do not know what their God requires of them.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry"><sc>Lordsc>, you have always been fairp> <p class="poetry">whenever I have complained to you.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Why are wicked people successful?<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?p>

<p class="bodytext">However, Ahikam son of Shaphan<n id="1" /> used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.<n id="2" />p>

However, listen to what I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise you, King Zedekiah of Judah. I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise that<n id="1" /> you will not die in battle or be executed.<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">However, you must confess that you have done wrong,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and that you have rebelled against the <sc>Lordsc> your God.p> <p class="poetry">You must confess<n id="2" /> that you have given yourself to<n id="3" /> foreign gods under every green tree,p> <p class="poetry">and have not obeyed my commands,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="poetry">I will go to the leaders<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and speak with them.p> <p class="poetry">Surely they know what the <sc>Lordsc> demands.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Surely they know what their God requires of them.&#8221;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Yet all of them, too, have rejected his authorityp> <p class="poetry">and refuse to submit to him.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="bodytext">Then I said,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;<sc>Lordsc>, you give me strength and protect me.p> <p class="poetry">You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble.<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">Nations from all over the earthp> <p class="poetry">will come to you and say,p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Our ancestors had nothing but false gods &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">worthless idols that could not help them at all.<n id="3" />p>

But you should take careful note of this: If you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves and this city and those who live in it the guilt of murdering an innocent man. For the <sc>Lordsc> has sent me to speak all this where you can hear it. That is the truth!&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">For I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm<n id="1" /> thatp> <p class="poetry">I will be with you and will rescue you.p> <p class="poetry">I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you.p> <p class="poetry">But I will not completely destroy you.p> <p class="poetry">I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure.p> <p class="poetry">I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>