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Jeremiah’s Complaint to the Lord

You deceived me, Lord,
    and I’ve been deceived.
You overpowered me,
    and you prevailed.
I’ve become a laughing stock all day long,
    and everyone mocks me.
Indeed, as often as I speak, I cry out,
    and shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For this message from the Lord has caused me
    constant[a] reproach and derision.
When I say, “I won’t remember the Lord[b],
    nor will I speak in his name anymore,
then there is this burning fire in my heart.
    It is bound up in my bones,
I grow weary of trying to hold it in,
    and I cannot do it!
10 Indeed, I hear many people whispering,
    “Terror on every side.[c]
Denounce him, let’s denounce him!”
    All my close friends watch my steps and say,
“Perhaps he will be deceived,
    and we can prevail against him
        and take vengeance on him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 20:8 Lit. all day long
  2. Jeremiah 20:9 Lit. him
  3. Jeremiah 20:10 I.e. in mockery of the prophet’s statement Magor-missabib in v. 3

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.”

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Footnotes

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