Jeremiah 20

All 18 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.

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1. 1Now Pashur son of Immer, a priest who served as the chief officer in the LORD's temple, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
2. 2Then Pashur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks at the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
3. 3The next day, Pashur released Jeremiah from the stocks. Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD hasn't named you Pashur — he's named you Magor-missabib."
4. 4"Because this is what the LORD says: 'I'm going to make you a source of terror — to yourself and to everyone you know. Your friends will fall by the swords of their enemies, and you'll watch it happen with your own eyes. I will hand all of Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will drag them off as captives to Babylon and slaughter them with the sword.
5. 5I will also hand over all the wealth of this city — everything it has produced, every precious thing, every treasure of Judah's kings — to their enemies. They will seize it all, carry it off, and take it to Babylon.
6. 6As for you, Pashur, you and everyone in your household will be taken captive. You will go to Babylon, and that's where you'll die and be buried — you and all the friends you fed lies to.'"
7. 7O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived. You are stronger than I am and have prevailed. I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me.
8. 8For since I began to speak, I have cried out, shouting about violence and destruction; because the word of the LORD has brought me ridicule and mockery every day.
9. 9So I told myself, "I won't mention him anymore. I won't speak in his name again." But his word burned inside me like a fire locked in my bones. I was exhausted from holding it in — I just couldn't do it.
10. 10I've heard the whispers of many people: "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" Even my closest friends are watching for me to stumble. "Maybe he'll slip up," they say, "and then we'll overpower him and get our revenge."
11. 11But the LORD stands with me like a mighty and fearsome one. So my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper, and their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.
12. 12But, O LORD of hosts, you who test the righteous and see the inner thoughts and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have opened my case.
13. 13Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! He has rescued the soul of the needy from the grip of evildoers.
14. 14Cursed be the day I was born! Let the day my mother gave birth to me never be called blessed.
15. 15Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, saying, "It's a boy!" — and filled him with joy.
16. 16Let that man be like the cities which the LORD overthrew and did not relent. Let him hear cries in the morning and shouts at noon.
17. 17because he didn't kill me in the womb. Then my mother's body would have been my grave, and she would have carried me forever.
18. 18Why did I ever come out of the womb? All I've seen is hardship and sorrow, and my days are wasting away in shame.