Jeremiah 20

1Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

2Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

3And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magor-missabib.footnote a

4For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.

5Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

6And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

7O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.footnote b

8For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.footnote c

11But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

12But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

13Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

14Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

15Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.

16And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;

17Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.

18Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Pashhur Persecutes Jeremiah

1When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, 2he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

3The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.footnote a 4For this is what the LORD says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. And I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will carry them away to Babylon and put them to the sword. 5I will give away all the wealth of this city—all its products and valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah—to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon. 6And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and there you will die and be buried—you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies.’”

Jeremiah’s Complaint

7You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived.You have overcome me and prevailed.I am a laughingstock all day long;everyone mocks me. 8For whenever I speak, I cry out;I proclaim violence and destruction.For the word of the LORD has become to mea reproach and derision all day long.

9If I say, “I will not mention Himor speak any more in His name,”His message becomes a fire burning in my heart,shut up in my bones,and I become weary of holding it in,and I cannot prevail. 10For I have heard the whispering of many:“Terror is on every side!Report him; let us report him!”All my trusted friendswatch for my fall:“Perhaps he will be deceivedso that we may prevail against himand take our vengeance upon him.”

11But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior.Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail.Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame,with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten. 12O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous,who sees the heartfootnote band mind,let me see Your vengeance upon them,for to You I have committed my cause.

13Sing to the LORD!Praise the LORD!For He rescues the life of the needyfrom the hands of evildoers.

14Cursed be the day I was born!May the day my mother bore me never be blessed. 15Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,saying, “A son is born to you,”bringing him great joy. 16May that man be like the citiesthat the LORD overthrew without compassion.May he hear an outcry in the morningand a battle cry at noon, 17because he did not kill me in the wombso that my mother might have been my grave,and her womb forever enlarged. 18Why did I come out of the wombto see only trouble and sorrow,and to end my days in shame?