Stilling Waves Bible Jeremiah 20

Jeremiah 20

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Translation

World English Bible (WEB), a modern translation.

1Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the LORD’s house, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.

2Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the LORD’s house.

3On the next day, Pashhur released Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD has not called your name Pashhur, but Magormissabib.

4For the LORD says, ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes will see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will carry them captive to Babylon, and will kill them with the sword.

5Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all its gains, and all its precious things, yes, I will give all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies. They will make them captives, take them, and carry them to Babylon.

6You, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house will go into captivity. You will come to Babylon, and there you will die, and there you will be buried, you, and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied falsely.’”

7LORD, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day. Everyone mocks me.

8For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, “Violence and destruction!” because the LORD’s word has been made a reproach to me, and a derision, all day.

9If I say that I will not make mention of him, or speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary with holding it in. I can’t.

10For I have heard the defaming of many: “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”

11But the LORD is with me as an awesome mighty one. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they won’t prevail. They will be utterly disappointed because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which will never be forgotten.

12But the LORD of Armies, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my cause to you.

13Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

14Cursed is the day in which I was born. Don’t let the day in which my mother bore me be blessed.

15Cursed is the man who brought news to my father, saying, “A boy is born to you,” making him very glad.

16Let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and didn’t repent. Let him hear a cry in the morning, and shouting at noontime,

17because he didn’t kill me from the womb. So my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great.

18Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Meditate

Jeremiah 20 meditation and reflection

Put in the stocks, Jeremiah feels God's word burning in his bones, then curses the day he was born. Bring him both your fire and your despair.

Some lines in this chapter speak of despair. If they say how you feel today, you don’t have to carry them alone: verses and a pause for heavy days. If anyone is in danger, please call your local emergency number. Find a helpline in your country.

Read it slowly, then sit with the prompt. Free: stillingwaves.com/bible/jeremiah/20/
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain).Scripture: King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom; in the United Kingdom under Crown patent.

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