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?

Read full chapter

Jeremiah Curses the Day of His Birth

14 Let the day on which I was born be cursed.
    Don’t let the day on which my mother gave birth to me be blessed.
15 Cursed is the person who brought
    the good news to my father,
“A baby boy has been born to you,”
    making him very happy.
16 May that man be like the cities that
    the Lord overthrew without compassion.
Let him hear a cry in the morning,
    and a battle cry at noon,
17 because he didn’t kill me in the womb,
    so that my mother would have been my grave
        and her womb forever pregnant.
18 Why did I ever come out of the womb
    to see trouble and sorrow,
        and to finish my life living in shame?

Read full chapter