Add parallel Print Page Options

Jeremiah Complains to the Lord

You tricked me, Lord, and I was tricked.
    You overpowered me and won.
People make fun of me all day long.
    Everyone laughs at me.

Every time I speak, I cry out.
    All you ever tell me to talk about
    is fighting and trouble.
Your message has brought me nothing but dishonor.
    It has made me suffer shame all day long.
Sometimes I think, “I won’t talk about his message anymore.
    I’ll never speak in his name again.”
But then your message burns in my heart.
    It’s like a fire deep inside my bones.
I’m tired of holding it in.
    In fact, I can’t.
10 I hear many people whispering,
    “There is terror on every side!
    Bring charges against Jeremiah! Let’s bring charges against him!”
All my friends
    are waiting for me to slip.
They are saying, “Perhaps he will be tricked
    into making a mistake.
Then we’ll win out over him.
    We’ll get even with him.”

11 But you are with me like a mighty warrior.
    So those who are trying to harm me will trip and fall.
    They won’t win out over me.
They will fail. They’ll be totally put to shame.
    Their dishonor will never be forgotten.

12 Lord, you rule over all.
    You test those who do what is right.
    You see what is in people’s hearts and minds.
So pay them back for what they’ve done.
    I’ve committed my cause to you.

13 Sing to the Lord, you people!
    Give praise to him!
He saves the lives of people in need.
    He saves them from the power of sinful people.

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.”

11 But the Lord(P) is with me like a mighty warrior;
    so my persecutors(Q) will stumble and not prevail.(R)
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;(S)
    their dishonor will never be forgotten.
12 Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous
    and probe the heart and mind,(T)
let me see your vengeance(U) on them,
    for to you I have committed(V) my cause.

13 Sing(W) to the Lord!
    Give praise to the Lord!
He rescues(X) the life of the needy
    from the hands of the wicked.(Y)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

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