Read the Bible

Those who are meant to die
    will die.
Those who are meant to die in war
    will die in war.
Those who are meant to die from hunger
    will die from hunger.
Those who are meant to be taken captive
    will be taken captive.'

⁵ "Who will feel sorry for you, Jerusalem?
    Who will be sad and cry for you?
    Who will go out of his way to ask how you are?
⁶ Jerusalem, you have left me," says the Lord.
    "You keep going farther and farther away,
so I have taken hold of you and destroyed you.
    I was tired of holding back my anger.
⁷ I have separated the people of Judah with my pitchfork
    and scattered them at the city gates of the land.
My people haven't changed their ways.
    So I have destroyed them
    and taken away their children.
⁸ There are more widows than grains of sand in the sea.
I brought a destroyer at noontime
    against the mothers of the young men of Judah.
I suddenly brought pain and fear
    on the people of Judah.
⁹ When the enemy attacked, a woman with seven sons felt faint because they would all die.
    She became weak and unable to breathe.
Her bright day became dark from sadness.
    She felt shame and disgrace.
And everyone else left alive in Judah
    I will hand over to the enemies, too!" says the Lord.

¹⁰ Mother, I am sorry that you gave birth to me
    since I must accuse and criticize the whole land.
I have not loaned or borrowed anything,
    but everyone curses me.
¹¹ The Lord said,
    "I have saved you for a good reason.
I have made your enemies beg you
    in times of disaster and trouble.
¹² No one can smash a piece of iron or bronze
    that comes from the north.
¹³ Your wealth and treasures
    I will give to others free of charge,
because the people of Judah have sinned
    throughout the country.
¹⁴ I will make you slaves to your enemies
    in a land you have never known.
My anger is like a hot fire,
    and it will burn against you."

¹⁵ Lord, you understand.
    Remember me and take care of me.
    Punish for me those who are hurting me.
Don't destroy me while you remain patient with them.
    Think about the shame I suffer for you.
¹⁶ Your words came to me, and I listened carefully to them.
    Your words made me very happy,
because I am called by your name,
    Lord God All-Powerful.
¹⁷ I never sat with the crowd
    as they laughed and had fun.
I sat by myself, because you were there,
    and you filled me with anger at the evil around me.
¹⁸ I don't understand why my pain has no end.
    I don't understand why my injury is not cured or healed.
Will you be like a brook that goes dry?
    Will you be like a spring that stops flowing?

"If you change your heart and return to me, I will take you back.
    Then you may serve me.
And if you speak things that have worth,
    not useless words,
    then you may speak for me.
Let the people of Judah turn to you,
    but you must not change and be like them.
²⁰ I will make you as strong as a wall to this people,
    as strong as a wall of bronze.
They will fight against you,
    but they will not defeat you,
because I am with you.
    I will rescue you and save you," says the Lord.
²¹ "I will save you from these wicked people
    and rescue you from these cruel people."