THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
JEREMIAH

Jeremiah 20 ©

For the previous prophecy Jeremiah is smitten by Pashur, the priest, and put in prison, vs. 1, 2. Being released, he announces to him, his friends and all the people God’s terrible judgments by the king of Babel, 3. He complains unto the Lord of his sufferings, grieves and inward conflict, 7. He comforts himself in God’s assurance and vengeance, even unto rejoicing, 11. He relates how impatient he was, 14, etc.

1

NOW 1Pashur the 2son of 3Immer the priest, who was also 4chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

2

Then Pashur 5smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the 6stocks that were in the 7high gate 8of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

3

And 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 9Magor-missabib.

4

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will 10make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy 11friends: 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 12slay them with the sword.

5

Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the 13labours 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 spoila them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

6

And 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 14lies.

7

¶O LORD, thou hast 15deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast 16prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

8

For since I 17spake, I cried out, I 18cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made ab reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

9

Then I 19said, I will not make 20mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But 21his word was in mine heart as a 22burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was 23weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

10

¶For I heard the 24defaming of many, 25fear on every side. 26Report, say they, and we will report it. 27All my familiarsc watched for my 28halting, saying, Peradventure he will be 29enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

11

But the LORD is withd me as a mighty terrible one: thereforee my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: 30they shall be greatly ashamed; for they 31shall not prosper: theirf32everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

12

But, O LORD of 33hosts, that triestg the righteous, and seest the 34reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeanceh on them: for unto 35thee have I opened my cause.

13

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

14

36Cursedibe the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

15

Cursedjbe the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A 37man child is born unto thee; 38making him very glad.

16

And let that man be as the 39cities which the LORD overthrew,k and 40repented not: and let him hear the 41cry in the 42morning, and the shouting at 43noontide;

17

44Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be 45always great with me.

18

Whereforel came I forth out of the womb to 46see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?