In this chapter, Jeremiah tells how he was commanded not to marry so that he would be a sign to the people of Jerusalem of the judgement which was coming to the city. His renunciation of marriage and family life and his, acceptance of solitariness was a sign of the end of the families of Jerusalem in the slaughter and exile that would result from the destruction of the city. He was also commanded to renounce the ordinary pleasures that were connected with wedding feasts, and to refuse to take part in mourning when deaths occurred. This extraordinary behaviour marked him out as a very strange figure in Jerusalem and one who would arouse hostility by what was understood as very anti-social actions. But in this chapter, which mainly refers to the approaching judgement of God, verses 14-15 look beyond to hope for the future, and verses 19-20 record Jeremiah's prayer of faith in God: