Daily Bread

“‘Those destined for death, to death;
those for the sword, to the sword;^(E)
those for starvation, to starvation;^(F)
those for captivity, to captivity.’^(G)

⁵ “Who will have pity^(P) on you, Jerusalem?
    Who will mourn for you?
    Who will stop to ask how you are?
⁶ You have rejected^(Q) me,” declares the Lord.
    “You keep on backsliding.
So I will reach out^(R) and destroy you;
    I am tired of holding back.^(S)
7 I will winnow^(T) them with a winnowing fork
    at the city gates of the land.
I will bring bereavement^(U) and destruction on my people,^(V)
    for they have not changed their ways.^(W)
8 I will make their widows^(X) more numerous
    than the sand of the sea.
At midday I will bring a destroyer^(Y)
    against the mothers of their young men;
suddenly I will bring down on them
    anguish and terror.^(Z)
9 The mother of seven will grow faint^(AA)
    and breathe her last.^(AB)
Her sun will set while it is still day;
    she will be disgraced^(AC) and humiliated.
I will put the survivors to the sword^(AD)
    before their enemies,”^(AE)
declares the Lord.

¹⁰ Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth,^(AF)
    a man with whom the whole land strives and contends!^(AG)
I have neither lent^(AH) nor borrowed,
    yet everyone curses^(AI) me.

“Surely I will deliver you^(AJ) for a good purpose;
    surely I will make your enemies plead^(AK) with you
    in times of disaster and times of distress.

¹² “Can a man break iron—
    iron from the north^(AL)—or bronze?

¹³ “Your wealth^(AM) and your treasures
    I will give as plunder,^(AN) without charge,^(AO)
because of all your sins
    throughout your country.^(AP)
14 I will enslave you to your enemies
    in^[a] a land you do not know,^(AQ)
for my anger will kindle a fire^(AR)
    that will burn against you.”

¹⁵ Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.^(AS)
You are long-suffering^(AT)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.^(AU)
16 When your words came, I ate^(AV) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,^(AW)
for I bear your name,^(AX)
    Lord God Almighty.
¹⁷ I never sat^(AY) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand^(AZ) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(BA)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(BB)

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve^(BC) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.^(BD)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
²⁰ I will make you a wall^(BE) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome^(BF) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”^(BG)
declares the Lord.
²¹ “I will save^(BH) you from the hands of the wicked^(BI)
    and deliver^(BJ) you from the grasp of the cruel.”^(BK)