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.”

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Footnotes

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

Jeremiah’s Complaint to the Lord

You deceived me, Lord,
    and I’ve been deceived.
You overpowered me,
    and you prevailed.
I’ve become a laughing stock all day long,
    and everyone mocks me.
Indeed, as often as I speak, I cry out,
    and shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For this message from the Lord has caused me
    constant[a] reproach and derision.
When I say, “I won’t remember the Lord[b],
    nor will I speak in his name anymore,
then there is this burning fire in my heart.
    It is bound up in my bones,
I grow weary of trying to hold it in,
    and I cannot do it!
10 Indeed, I hear many people whispering,
    “Terror on every side.[c]
Denounce him, let’s denounce him!”
    All my close friends watch my steps and say,
“Perhaps he will be deceived,
    and we can prevail against him
        and take vengeance on him.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 20:8 Lit. all day long
  2. Jeremiah 20:9 Lit. him
  3. Jeremiah 20:10 I.e. in mockery of the prophet’s statement Magor-missabib in v. 3