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Jeremiah Curses the Day He Was Born

O Yahweh, You have enticed me, and I was enticed;
You were (A)stronger than I, and You prevailed.
I have become a (B)laughingstock all day long;
Everyone (C)mocks me.
For each time I speak, I cry aloud;
I (D)call out violence and devastation
Because for me the (E)word of Yahweh has [a]resulted
In reproach and derision all day long.
But if I say, “I will not (F)remember Him
Or speak anymore in His name,”
Then in (G)my heart it becomes like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
And I am weary of holding it in,
And (H)I cannot prevail.
10 For (I)I have heard the bad report of many,
(J)Terror on every side!
(K)Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him!”
[b]All my (L)trusted friends,
Keeping watch for my fall, say:
“Perhaps he will be [c]deceived, so that we may (M)prevail against him
And take our revenge on him.”

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Footnotes

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

Total despair

Lord, you enticed me, and I was taken in.
    You were too strong for me, and you prevailed.
Now I’m laughed at all the time;
    everyone mocks me.
Every time I open my mouth, I cry out
    and say, “Violence and destruction!”
The Lord’s word has brought me
    nothing but insult and injury, constantly.
I thought, I’ll forget him;
    I’ll no longer speak in his name.
But there’s an intense fire in my heart,
    trapped in my bones.
    I’m drained trying to contain it;
        I’m unable to do it.
10 I hear many whispering—
    “Panic Lurks Everywhere!—
    proclaim, yes, let’s proclaim it ourselves!”
All my friends are waiting for me to stumble:
    “Perhaps he can be enticed.
        Then we’ll prevail against him
            and get our revenge on him!”

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