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’s Complaint

Lord, You persuaded me and I let myself be persuaded;
You have (A)overcome me and prevailed.
I have become a (B)laughingstock all day long;
Everyone (C)mocks me.
For each time I speak, I cry aloud;
I (D)proclaim violence and destruction,
Because for me the (E)word of the Lord has [a]resulted
In taunting and derision all day long.
But if I say, “I will not (F)remember Him
Nor speak anymore in His name,”
Then in (G)my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am tired of holding it in,
And (H)I cannot endure it.
10 For (I)I have heard the whispering of many,
(J)Terror on every side!
(K)Denounce him; let’s denounce him!”
[b]All my (L)trusted friends,
Watching for my fall, say:
“Perhaps he will be persuaded, so that we may (M)prevail against him
And take our revenge on him.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 20:8 Lit become
  2. Jeremiah 20:10 Lit Every man of my peace