TSK · Jeremiah 42:2

Pharaoh said,“I will release you so that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness. Only you must not go very far. Do pray for me.”

I will send the wild animals against you and they will bereave you of your children, annihilate your cattle, and diminish your population so that your roads will become deserted.

There will be very few of you left, though at one time you were as numerous as the stars in the sky, because you will have disobeyed the LORD your God.

The Israelites said to Samuel,“Keep crying out to the LORD our God so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines!”

As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.

Listen to my appeal for mercy! Deliver me, as you promised.

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.

You see many things, but don’t comprehend; their ears are open, but do not hear.”

Look at what they are saying to me,“Where are the events in the LORD’s message? Let’s see them happen, please!”

Perhaps then they will ask the LORD for mercy and will all stop doing the evil things they have been doing. For the LORD has threatened to bring great anger and wrath against these people.”

But now please listen, your royal Majesty, and grant my plea for mercy. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.”

¶ The Prophet Speaks:א(Alef) Alas! The city once full of people now sits all alone! The prominent lady among the nations has become a widow! The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer!

But I will let a small number of them survive the sword, famine, and pestilence, so that they can confess all their abominable practices to the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.