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14 Cursed be the (A)day when I was born;
Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me!
15 Cursed be the man who brought the good news
To my father, saying,
“A [a](B)baby boy has been born to you!”
And made him very glad.
16 But let that man be like the cities
Which Yahweh (C)overthrew without [b]relenting,
And let him hear an (D)outcry in the morning
And a [c]shout of war at noon,
17 Because he did not (E)put me to death from the womb,
So that my mother would have been my grave,
And her womb ever pregnant.
18 Why did I ever come forth from the womb
To (F)look on trouble and sorrow,
So that my (G)days have been spent in (H)shame?

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 20:15 Lit male child
  2. Jeremiah 20:16 Or regret
  3. Jeremiah 20:16 Or trumpet blast

Jeremiah’s Lament

14 May the day I was born
be cursed.(A)
May the day my mother bore me
never be blessed.
15 May the man be cursed
who brought the news to my father, saying,
“A male child is born to you,”
bringing him great joy.
16 Let that man be like the cities
the Lord demolished without compassion.(B)
Let him hear an outcry in the morning(C)
and a war cry at noontime
17 because he didn’t kill me in the womb(D)
so that my mother might have been my grave,
her womb eternally pregnant.
18 Why did I come out of the womb
to see only struggle and sorrow,(E)
to end my life in shame?

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