Fixed Beyond Recall

Jeremiah 15

The Lord tells Jeremiah that even if Moses and Samuel stood before him, he would not turn toward this people, and declares that he will punish them with sword, famine, wild beasts, and captivity because of the sins of Manasseh. Jeremiah complains bitterly of his own suffering and isolation, and the Lord answers by calling him back to faithful speech, promising again to make him a strong wall against those who fight him.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEN the Lord said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My soul is not towards them. Send away this people and let them go.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before my face, my soul could not be toward them: dismiss this people, and let them go forth.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἐὰν στῇ Μωυσῆς καὶ Σαμουὴλ πρὸ προσώπου μου, οὐκ ἔστιν ἡ ψυχή μου πρὸς αὐτούς· ἐξαπόστειλον τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον, καὶ ἐξελθέτωσαν.

KJVThen said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.

JPSThen said the LORD unto me: ‘Though Moses and Samuel stood before Me, yet My mind could not be toward this people; cast them out of My sight, and let them go forth.

ThomsonAnd if they say to thee, Whither shall we go? then thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord, such as are for pestilence, to pestilence, and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for famine, to famine; and such a s are for captivity, to captivity.

BrentonAnd it shall be, if they say to thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; As many as are for death, to death; and as many as are for famine, to famine; and as many as are for the sword, to the sword; and as many as are for captivity, to captivity.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐὰν εἴπωσι πρὸς σὲ, ποῦ ἐξελευσόμεθα; καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ὅσοι εἰς θάνατον, εἰς θάνατον· καὶ ὅσοι εἰς μάχαιραν, εἰς μάχαιραν· καὶ ὅσοι εἰς λιμὸν, εἰς λιμόν· καὶ ὅσοι εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν, εἰς αἰχμαλωσίαν.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee: Whither shall we go forth? then thou shall tell them: Thus saith the LORD: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.

ThomsonFor I will send against them four kinds of avengers, saith the Lord, the sword to slay; and the dogs to tear; and the wild beasts of the earth, and the birds of the air to devour and destroy.

BrentonAnd I will punish them with four kinds of death, saith the Lord, the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the wild beasts of the earth, and the birds of the sky to devour and destroy.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκδικήσω ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς τέσσαρα εἴδη, λέγει Κύριος· τὴν μάχαιραν εἰς σφαγὴν, καὶ τοὺς κύνας εἰς διασπασμὸν, καὶ τὰ θηρία τῆς γῆς, καὶ τὰ πετεινὰ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ εἰς βρῶσιν καὶ διαφθοράν.

KJVAnd I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.

JPSAnd I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to drag, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and to destroy.

ThomsonAnd I will deliver them up to distress in all the kingdoms of the earth, on account of Manasses son of Ezekias king of Juda-for all that he did in Jerusalem.

BrentonAnd I will deliver them up for distress to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasses son of Ezekias king of Juda, for all that he did in Jerusalem.

GreekΚαὶ παραδώσω αὐτοὺς εἰς ἀνάγκας πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς, διὰ Μανασσῆ υἱὸν Ἐζεκίου βασιλέως Ἰούδα, περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐποίησεν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVAnd I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.

JPSAnd I will cause them to be a horror among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem. .

ThomsonWho will pity thee, Jerusalem? or who will bemoan thee? or who will turn aside to inquire after thy welfare?

BrentonWho will spare thee, O Jerusalem? and who will fear for thee? or who will turn back to ask for thy welfare?

GreekΤίς φείσεται ἐπὶ σοὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ; καὶ τίς δειλιάσει ἐπὶ σοί; ἢ τίς ἀνακάμψει εἰς εἰρήνην σοι;

KJVFor who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?

JPSFor who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? Or who shall bemoan thee? Or who shall turn aside to ask of thy welfare?

ThomsonThou hast turned thy back on Me, saith the Lord: backwards thou shalt go. And I will stretch forth My hand and destroy thee. I will no longer bear with them; but utterly disperse them.

BrentonThou hast turned away from me, saith the Lord, thou wilt go back: therefore I will stretch out my hand, and will destroy thee, and will no more spare them.

GreekΣὺ ἀπεστράφης με, λέγει Κύριος, ὀπίσω πορεύσῃ· καὶ ἐκτενῶ τὴν χεῖρά μου, καὶ διαφθερῶ σε, καὶ οὐκέτι ἀνήσω αὐτούς·

KJVThou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

JPSThou hast cast Me off, saith the LORD, Thou art gone backward; Therefore do I stretch out My hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

ThomsonIn the gates of My people they are bereaved of children; My people are destroyed because of their wickedness.

BrentonAnd I will completely scatter them; in the gates of my people they are bereaved of children: they have destroyed my people because of their iniquities.

GreekΚαὶ διασπερῶ αὐτοὺς ἐν διασπορᾶ ἐν πύλαις λαοῦ μου ἠτεκνώθησαν, ἀπώλεσαν τὸν λαόν μου διὰ τὰς κακίας αὐτῶν.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonTheir widows are multiplied above the sand of the sea. Against a mother I have brought soldiers—misery at noon-day. Upon her I have cast suddenly terror and consternation.

BrentonTheir widows have been multiplied more than the sand of the sea: I have brought young men against the mother, even distress at noon-day: I have suddenly cast upon her trembling and anxiety.

GreekἘπληθύνθησαν αἱ χῆραι αὐτῶν ὑπὲρ τὴν ἄμμον τῆς θαλάσσης· ἐπήγαγον ἐπὶ μητέρα νεανίσκους, ταλαιπωρίαν ἐν μεσημβρίᾳ, ἐπέῤῥιψα ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἐξαίφνης τρόμον καὶ σπουδήν.

KJVTheir widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.

JPSTheir widows are increased to Me above the sand of the seas; I bring upon them, against the mother, a chosen one, Even a spoiler at noonday; I cause anguish and terrors to fall upon her suddenly.

ThomsonShe who was the mother of seven is childless; her soul is afflicted, the sun set upon her while it is yet mid-day; she is ashamed and confounded: the rest of them I will deliver up to the sword before their enemies.

BrentonShe that bore seven is spent; her soul has fainted under trouble; her sun is gone down while it is yet noon; she is ashamed and disgraced: I will give the remnant of them to the sword before their enemies.

GreekἘκενώθη ἡ τίκτουσα ἑπτὰ, ἀπεκάκησεν ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς, ἐπέδυ ὁ ἥλιος αὐτῇ ἔτι μεσούσης τῆς ἡμέρας, κατῃσχύνθη καὶ ὠνειδίσθη· τοὺς καταλοίπους αὐτῶν εἰς μάχαιραν δώσω ἐναντίον τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν.

KJVShe that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.

JPSShe that hath borne seven languisheth; Her spirit droopeth; Her sun is gone down while it was yet day, She is ashamed and confounded; And the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, Saith the LORD.’

Thomson(p) Woe is me, O my mother, what sort of a person hast thou born [in] me! a man of strife and contending with all this land! I have neither lent on usury: nor hath any one lent to me; yet my strength is spent among them who curse me.

BrentonWoe is me, my mother! thou hast born me as some man of strife, and at variance with the whole earth; I have not helped others, nor has any one helped me; my strength has failed among them that curse me.

GreekΟἴμοι ἐγὼ, μῆτερ, ὡς τινά με ἔτεκες ἄνδρα δικαζόμενον, καὶ διακρινόμενον πάσῃ τῇ γῇ· οὔτε ὠφέλησα, οὔτε ὠφέλησέ με οὐδείς· ἡ ἰσχύς μου ἐξέλιπεν ἐν τοῖς καταρωμένοις με.

KJVWoe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

JPSWoe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; Yet every one of them doth curse me.

ThomsonBe it so, O Lord, while they enjoy prosperity. (J) Did I not stand by thee, in the time of their calamities and in the time of their affliction, for good with the enemy?

BrentonBe it so, Lord, in their prosperity; surely I stood before thee in the time of their calamities, and in the time of their affliction, for their good against the enemy.

GreekΓένοιτο δέσποτα κατευθυνόντων αὐτῶν· εἰ μὴ παρέστην σοι ἐν καιρῷ τῶν κακῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐν καιρῷ θλίψεως αὐτῶν, εἰς ἀγαθὰ πρὸς τὸν ἐχθρόν.

KJVThe LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

JPSThe LORD said: ‘Verily I will release thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

Thomson—

BrentonWill iron be known? whereas thy strength is a brazen covering.

GreekΕἰ γνωσθήσεται σίδηρος; καὶ περιβόλαιον χαλκοῦν ἡ ἰσχύς σου.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonThy treasures indeed I will give for a spoil in all thy borders, as a ransom for all thy sins;

BrentonYea, I will give thy treasures for a spoil as a recompence, because of all thy sins, and that in all thy borders.

GreekΚαὶ τοὺς θησαυρούς σου εἰς προνομὴν δώσω ἀντάλλαγμα, διὰ πάσας τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου, καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις σου.

KJVThy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

JPSThy substance and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.

Thomsonand I will make thee a slave to thine enemies around in the land which thou hast not known. For a fire is kindled from My wrath and against you it shall blaze.

BrentonAnd I will enslave thee to thine enemies round about, in a land which thou hast not known; for a fire has been kindled out of my wrath; it shall burn upon you.

GreekΚαὶ καταδουλώσω σε κύκλῳ τοῖς ἐχθροῖς σου, ἐν τῇ γῇ ᾗ οὐκ ᾔδεις· ὅτι πῦρ ἐκκέκαυται ἐκ τοῦ θυμοῦ μου, ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς καυθήσεται.

KJVAnd I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.

JPSAnd I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not; for a fire is kindled in My nostril, which shall burn upon you.’

Thomson(p) O Lord, remember me and visit me and save me from them, who are persecuting me past forbearance. Consider how I have for Thy sake borne reproach from them who despise my words.

BrentonO Lord, remember me, and visit me, and vindicate me before them that persecute me; do not bear long with them; know how I have met with reproach for thy sake, from those who set at nought thy words;

GreekΚύριε μνήσθητί μου, καὶ ἐπίσκεψαί με, καὶ ἀθώωσόν με ἀπὸ τῶν καταδιωκόντων με, μὴ εἰς μακροθυμίαν· γνῶθι, ὡς ἔλαβον περὶ σοῦ ὀνειδισμὸν

KJVO LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

JPSThou, O LORD, knowest; Remember me, and think of me, and avenge me of my persecutors; Take me not away because of Thy long-suffering; Know that for Thy sake I have suffered taunts.

ThomsonBring them to an end. But let Thy word be to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Because I am called by Thy name, O Lord Almighty;

Brentonconsume them; and thy word shall be to me for the joy and gladness of my heart: for thy name has been called upon me, O Lord Almighty.

Greekὑπὸ τῶν ἀθετούντων τοὺς λόγους σου· συντέλεσον αὐτούς· καὶ ἔσται ὁ λόγος σου ἐμοὶ εἰς εὐφροσύνην καὶ χαρὰν καρδίας μου, ὅτι ἐπικέκληται τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ, Κύριε παντοκράτωρ.

KJVThy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

JPSThy words were found, and I did eat them; And Thy words were unto me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart; Because Thy name was called on me, O LORD God of hosts.

ThomsonI did not sit in the council of those scorners; but was struck with awe because of Thy hand. I sat alone because I was full of bitterness.

BrentonI have not sat in the assembly of them as they mocked, but I feared because of thy power: I sat alone, for I was filled with bitterness.

GreekΟὐκ ἐκάθισα ἐν συνεδρίῳ αὐτῶν παιζόντων, ἀλλὰ εὐλαβούμην ἀπὸ προσώπου χειρός σου· καταμόνας ἐκαθήμην, ὅτι πικρίας ἐνεπλήσθην.

KJVI sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

JPSI sat not in the assembly of them that make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of Thy hand; For Thou hast filled me with indignation.

ThomsonWhy do they who grieve me prevail over me? My wound is deep, how can I be healed? It is indeed become to me like deceitful water which cannot be trusted.

BrentonWhy do they that grieve me prevail against me? my wound is severe; whence shall I be healed? it is indeed become to me as deceitful water, that has no faithfulness.

GreekἹνατί οἱ λυποῦντές με κατισχύουσί μου; ἡ πληγή μου στερεὰ, πόθεν ἰαθήσομαι; γινομένη ἐγενήθη μοι ὡς ὕδωρ ψευδὲς, οὐκ ἔχον πίστιν.

KJV—

JPSWhy is my pain perpetual, And my wound incurable, so that it refuseth to be healed? Wilt Thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful brook, As waters that fail?

Thomson(J) Therefore thus saith the Lord: If thou wilt return I will reinstate thee; and in My presence thou shalt stand. And if thou wilt lead out the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as My mouth; and they shall turn to thee and thou shalt not turn to them.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord, If thou wilt return, then will I restore thee, and thou shalt stand before my face: and if thou wilt bring forth the precious from the worthless, thou shalt be as my mouth: and they shall return to thee; but thou shalt not return to them.

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐὰν ἐπιστρέψῃς, καὶ ἀποκαταστήσω σε, καὶ πρὸ προσώπου μου στήσῃ· καὶ ἐὰν ἐξαγάγῃς τίμιον ἀπὸ ἀναξίου, ὡς τὸ στόμα μου ἔσῃ· καὶ ἀναστρέψουσιν αὐτοὶ πρὸς σὲ, καὶ σὺ οὐκ ἀναστρέψεις πρὸς αὐτούς.

KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.

JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD: If thou return, and I bring thee back, Thou shalt stand before Me; And if thou bring forth the precious out of the vile, Thou shalt be as My mouth; Let them return unto thee, But thou shalt not return unto them.

ThomsonAnd I will make thee to this people like a strong wall of brass: though they fight against thee, they shall not prevail over thee; for I am with thee to save thee and rescue thee out of the hand of the wicked.

BrentonAnd I will make thee to this people as a strong brazen wall; and they shall fight against thee, but they shall by no means prevail against thee;

GreekΚαὶ δώσω σε τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ, ὡς τεῖχος ὀχυρὸν, χαλκοῦν· καὶ πολεμήσουσι πρὸς σὲ, καὶ οὐ μὴ δύνωνται πρὸς σὲ, διότι μετὰ σοῦ εἰμι τοῦ σώζειν σε,

KJVAnd I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

JPSAnd I will make thee unto this people a fortified brazen wall; And they shall fight against thee, But they shall not prevail against thee; For I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, Saith the LORD.

ThomsonAnd I will redeem thee out of the hand of pestilent men.

Brentonfor I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee out of the hand of wicked men; and I will ransom thee out of the hand of pestilent men.

Greekκαὶ τοῦ ἐξαιρεῖσθαί σε ἐκ χειρὸς πονηρῶν, καὶ λυτρώσομαί σε ἐκ χειρὸς λοιμῶν.

KJVAnd I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.

JPSAnd I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, And I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.