Jeremiah 20:7-9

International Children’s Bible

⁷ Lord, you tricked me, and I was fooled.
    You are stronger than I am. So you won.
I have become a joke.
    Everyone makes fun of me all day long.
⁸ Every time I speak, I shout.
    I am always shouting about violence and destruction.
I tell the people about the message I received from the Lord.
    But this only brings me insults. The people make fun of me all day long.
⁹ Sometimes I say to myself,
    “I will forget about the Lord.
    I will not speak anymore in his name.”
But then the Lord’s message becomes like a burning fire inside me.
    It feels like it burns deep within my bones.
I get tired of trying to hold the Lord’s message inside of me.
    And finally, I cannot hold it in.