Chapter 20

Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who [was] also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard⁴ that Jeremiah prophesied⁸ these things.

Then Pashur smote⁵⁵ Jeremiah the prophet, and put⁴ him in the stocks that [were] in the high gate of Benjamin, which [was] by the house of the LORD.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth⁵⁵ Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said⁴ Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called¹ thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.

For thus saith¹ the LORD, Behold, I will make⁶ thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends:⁶ and they shall fall¹ by the sword of their enemies,⁶ and thine eyes shall behold⁶ [it]: and I will give⁴ all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive⁵² into Babylon, and shall slay⁵² them with the sword.

Moreover I will deliver¹ 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 give⁴ into the hand of their enemies,⁶ which shall spoil¹ them, and take¹ them, and carry⁵² them to Babylon.

And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell⁶ in thine house shall go⁴ into captivity: and thou shalt come⁴ to Babylon, and there thou shalt die,⁴ and shalt be buried¹¹ there, thou, and all thy friends,⁶ to whom thou hast prophesied⁸ lies.

O LORD, thou hast deceived¹⁴ me, and I was deceived:¹¹ thou art stronger¹ than I, and hast prevailed:⁴ I am in derision daily, every one mocketh⁶ me.

For since I spake,¹⁷ I cried out,⁴ I cried⁴ violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

Then I said,¹ I will not make mention⁴ of him, nor speak¹⁷ any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning⁶ fire shut up⁷ in my bones, and I was weary⁸ with forbearing,⁴⁴ and I could⁴ not [stay].

For I heard¹ the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report,⁵⁴ [say they], and we will report⁵⁵ it. All my familiars ⁷⁹⁶⁵ watched⁶ for my halting, ⁶⁷⁶¹ [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed,²⁹ and we shall prevail⁴ against him, and we shall take⁴ our revenge on him.

But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors⁶ shall stumble,¹¹ and they shall not prevail:⁴ they shall be greatly ashamed;¹ for they shall not prosper:⁵² [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.¹¹

But, O LORD of hosts, that triest⁶ the righteous, [and] seest⁶ the reins and the heart, let me see⁴ thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened¹⁴ my cause.

Sing³ unto the LORD, praise¹⁶ ye the LORD: for he hath delivered⁵² the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.⁵⁶

Cursed⁷ [be] the day wherein I was born:²⁷ let not the day wherein my mother bare¹ me be blessed.⁷

Cursed⁷ [be] the man who brought tidings¹⁴ to my father, saying,² A man child is born²⁷ unto thee; making him very¹⁵ glad.¹⁴

And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew,¹ and repented⁸ not: and let him hear¹ the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide; ⁶⁶⁷²

Because he slew³¹ me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb [to be] always great [with me].

Wherefore came I forth¹ out of the womb to see² labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed⁴ with shame?