O Lord, (A)you have deceived me,
    and I was deceived;
(B)you are stronger than I,
    and you have prevailed.
(C)I have become a laughingstock all the day;
    everyone mocks me.
For whenever I speak, I cry out,
    I shout, (D)“Violence and destruction!”
For (E)the word of the Lord has become for me
    (F)a reproach and (G)derision all day long.
If I say, “I will not mention him,
    or speak any more in his name,”
(H)there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
    shut up in my bones,
and (I)I am weary with holding it in,
    and I cannot.
10 (J)For I hear many whispering.
    (K)Terror is on every side!
“Denounce him! (L)Let us denounce him!”
    say all my (M)close friends,
    (N)watching for (O)my fall.
“Perhaps he will be deceived;
    then (P)we can overcome him
    and take our revenge on him.”

Read full chapter

Jeremiah Denounces His Persecutors

O Lord, thou hast deceived me,
    and I was deceived;
thou art stronger than I,
    and thou hast prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all the day;
    every one mocks me.
For whenever I speak, I cry out,
    I shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For the word of the Lord has become for me
    a reproach and derision all day long.
If I say, “I will not mention him,
    or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
    shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
    and I cannot.
10 For I hear many whispering.
    Terror is on every side!
“Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”
    say all my familiar friends,
    watching for my fall.
“Perhaps he will be deceived,
    then we can overcome him,
    and take our revenge on him.”

Read full chapter

Jeremiah’s Complaint

You deceived[a](A) me, Lord, and I was deceived[b];
    you overpowered(B) me and prevailed.
I am ridiculed(C) all day long;
    everyone mocks(D) me.
Whenever I speak, I cry out
    proclaiming violence and destruction.(E)
So the word of the Lord has brought me
    insult and reproach(F) all day long.
But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”(G)
his word is in my heart like a fire,(H)
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;(I)
    indeed, I cannot.
10 I hear many whispering,
    “Terror(J) on every side!
    Denounce(K) him! Let’s denounce him!”
All my friends(L)
    are waiting for me to slip,(M) saying,
“Perhaps he will be deceived;
    then we will prevail(N) over him
    and take our revenge(O) on him.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 20:7 Or persuaded
  2. Jeremiah 20:7 Or persuaded