Jeremiah 20

Jeremiah's Prophetic Renaming Jeremiah 20:3–6

³Verse 3. On the next day, Pashhur released Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “Yahweh has not called your name Pashhur, but Magormissabib. ⁴Verse 4. For Yahweh 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. ⁵Verse 5. Moreover 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.

⁶Verse 6. You, 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.’”

Jeremiah's Struggle with Prophecy Jeremiah 20:7–10

⁷Verse 7. Yahweh, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded.You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.I have become a laughing-stock all day.Everyone mocks me.⁸Verse 8. For as often as I speak, I cry out;I cry, “Violence and destruction!”because Yahweh’s word has been made a reproach to me,and a derision, all day.⁹Verse 9. If I say, 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,and I am weary with holding it in,and I can’t.¹⁰Verse 10. For 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.”

Divine Assurance Amid Persecution Jeremiah 20:11–13

¹¹Verse 11. But Yahweh 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.¹²Verse 12. But, Yahweh of Armies, who tests the righteous,who sees the heart and the mind,let me see your vengeance on them;for to you I have revealed my cause.¹³Verse 13. Sing to Yahweh!Praise Yahweh,for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

Jeremiah's Lament and Despair Jeremiah 20:14–18

¹⁴Verse 14. Cursed is the day in which I was born.Don’t let the day in which my mother bore me be blessed.¹⁵Verse 15. Cursed is the man who brought news to my father, saying,“A boy is born to you,” making him very glad.¹⁶Verse 16. Let that man be as the cities which Yahweh overthrew,and didn’t repent.Let him hear a cry in the morning,and shouting at noontime;¹⁷Verse 17. because he didn’t kill me from the womb.So my mother would have been my grave,and her womb always great.¹⁸Verse 18. Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow,that my days should be consumed with shame?