Jeremiah 20

1 When Pashhur [son of Immer, a priestly leader] the priest, the son of Immer [a priest during David’s time] and the chief official [overseer, leader] in the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], heard [listened attentively, with obedience] Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] prophesying [speaking under the divine spirit] these things [words, matters, affairs], word study 2 he had Jeremiah [the prophet of God, a spokesperson for the Lord] the prophet beaten [struck, smote] and put in the stocks [a device for punishment, a wooden frame] at the Upper [high, lofty] Gate of Benjamin [son of the right hand, a tribe of Israel], which was by the house [temple, dwelling place] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 3 The next day [on the morrow, the following day], when Pashhur [a priest, whose name means ‘freedom’] released Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] from the stocks [a device used to punish people, to restrain], Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] does not call you Pashhur [freedom], but Magor-missabib [Terror on Every Side, cause of fear on every side]. word study 4 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘I will make you a terror [fear, dread] to yourself and to all your friends [loved ones, those who care for you]. They will fall [be defeated, come to an end] by the sword [cutting instrument, weapon] of their enemies [those who oppose, hate] before your very eyes [in your sight, as you watch]. And I will hand [give, deliver] Judah [the tribe, region] over to the king [ruler, monarch] of Babylon [city, empire of confusion], and he will carry them away [take captive, exile] to Babylon [city, place of confusion] and put them to the sword [kill, slay]. word study 5 I will give away [surrender, hand over] all the wealth [riches, treasures] of this city [metropolis, urban center]—all its products [gains, results of labor] and valuables [precious things, riches], and all the treasures [stores, riches] of the kings [rulers, monarchs] of Judah [the tribe of Judah, the southern kingdom]—to their enemies [adversaries, foes]. They will plunder [spoil, seize] them, seize them, and carry them off [transport, convey] to Babylon [the city of confusion, the empire]. word study 6 And you, Pashhur [a priest], and all who live [dwell, reside] in your house [family, household], will go into captivity [exile, bondage]. You will go to Babylon [a city of confusion, Babel], and there you will die [pass away, perish] and be buried [laid to rest, interred]—you and all your friends [loved ones, companions] to whom you have prophesied [spoken under divine influence] these lies [falsehoods, deceptions].’” word study 7 You have deceived [persuaded, enticed] me, O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and I was deceived [tricked, misled]. You have overcome [strengthened, prevailed over] me and prevailed [been stronger, conquered]. I am a laughingstock [object of mockery, scorn] all day long; everyone mocks [derides, ridicules] me. word study 8 For whenever I speak [proclaim, declare], I cry out [shout, proclaim loudly]; I proclaim [declare, announce] violence [cruelty, injustice] and destruction [desolation, ruin]. For the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] has become to me a reproach [shame, scorn] and derision [mockery, ridicule] all [every, the entire] day long. word study 9 If I say, “I will not mention Him [the Lord] or speak any more in His name [His character, reputation],” His message [word, prophecy] becomes a fire [burning passion, divine energy] burning in my heart [inner being, soul], shut up [restrained, confined] in my bones [inner self, deepest emotions], and I become weary [exhausted, drained] of holding it in [containing, suppressing], and I cannot prevail [overcome, endure]. word study 10 For I have heard the whispering [defaming, slander] of many: “Terror [fear, dread] is on every side [around, surrounding]! Report him; let us report him [denounce, tell]!” All my trusted friends [familiars, allies] watch for my fall [stumbling, halting]: “Perhaps [if not, peradventure] he will be deceived [enticed, persuaded] so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance [revenge, avengement] upon him.” word study 11 But the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is with me like a [mighty, powerful] fearsome warrior [a strong and ruthless champion]. Therefore, my persecutors [those who pursue and attack me] will stumble [fall and fail] and will not prevail [be able to overcome]. Since they have not succeeded [achieved their goal, been prudent], they will be utterly put to shame [exceedingly disgraced, with great reproach], with an everlasting [forever, eternal] disgrace [shame, dishonor] that will never be forgotten [lost from memory]. word study 12 O LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, large group of people or things], who examines [tests, proves] the righteous [just, upright], who sees [looks after, provides for] the heart [feelings, will, intellect] and mind [thoughts, intentions], let me see Your vengeance [avengement, punishment] upon them, for to You [toward You, in Your direction] I have committed [revealed, uncovered] my cause [strife, dispute, quarrel]. word study 13 Sing [with joyful music, unto] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]! Praise [to shine, celebrate] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]! For He rescues [to snatch away, deliver] the life [soul, living being] of the needy [poor, oppressed] from the hands [power, direction] of evildoers [those who are wicked, evil-doers]. word study 14 Cursed [to be utterly doomed, under a divine curse] be the day [a period of time, a season of life] I was born [came into existence, given life]! May the day [a specific point in time, a moment of birth] my mother [the one who gave me life, my female parent] bore [gave birth to, brought forth] me never be blessed [praised, honored, or considered fortunate]. word study 15 Cursed [utterly doomed, under divine judgment] be the man [human, male person] who brought my father [parent, ancestor] the news [tidings, announcement], saying [declaring, proclaiming], “A son [male child, descendant] is born [brought into being, given birth] to you,” bringing him great [intense, profound] joy [rejoicing, gladness]. word study 16 May that man [a male person, individual] be like the cities [towns, settlements] that the LORD [Yehovah, God] overthrew [turned upside down, destroyed] without compassion [mercy, pity]. May he hear [listen, obey] an outcry [loud cry, shriek] in the morning [dawn, break of day] and a battle cry [shout, war cry] at noon [midday, noon time], word study 17 because he did not kill me [slay, put to death] in the womb [from the very beginning, in my mother’s body] so that my mother [female parent, nurturer] might have been my grave [final resting place, tomb], and her womb [place of fetal growth, matrix] forever [always, eternally] enlarged [in a state of perpetual conception, pregnant]. word study 18 Why did I come out [from the womb, at birth] of the womb [matrix, place of fetal growth] to see [to experience, to look upon] only trouble [labor, hardship, sorrow] and sorrow [grief, anguish], and to end [to finish, to complete] my days [a period of time] in shame [disgrace, embarrassment]? word study