Jeremiah 10:24
O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
O Lord, correct me, but with judgment,.... The prophet here represents the body of the Jewish nation, especially the godly among them; he considers the troubles coming upon the nation as a correction and chastisement of the Lord; he does not refuse it, or desire it might not come upon them; he knew the chastisements of a father are for good; he only entreats it might be "with judgment"; not in strict justice, as his and the sins of his people deserved, then they would not be able to bear it; but in measure and moderation, with a mixture of mercy and tenderness in it; and in a distinguishing manner, so as to make a difference between his own people and others, in the correction of them; see Ezekiel 34:16:
not in thine anger; in vindictive wrath, and hot displeasure, which is elsewhere deprecated by the saints, Psalms 6:1:
lest thou bring me to nothing; or "lessen me" {e}, or "make me little"; or make us few, as the Arabic version; or bring to a small number, as the Syriac; and so to utter ruin.
{e} ynjemt Np "ne imminuas me", Munster, Calvin, Cocceius; "ne diminuere facias me", Pagninus, Montanus; "ne paucum reddas me", Schmidt.