Chapter 20
1 Now Pashhur , the son of Immer the priest , who was chief officer in Yahweh ’s house , heard Jeremiah prophesying these things .
2 Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin , which was in Yahweh ’s house .
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.
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 .
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.
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 .’"
7 Yahweh , you have persuaded me , and I was persuaded . You are stronger than I , and have prevailed . I have become a laughingstock all day . Everyone mocks me .
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 .
9 If I say that 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 . I am weary with holding it in . I can ’t.
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 ."
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 .
12 But Yahweh of Armies , who tests the righteous , who sees the heart and the mind , let me see your vengeance on them , for I have revealed my cause to you .
13 Sing to Yahweh ! Praise Yahweh , for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers .
14 Cursed is the day in which I was born . Don’t let the day in which my mother bore me be blessed .
15 Cursed is the man who brought news to my father , saying, " A boy is born to you ," making him very glad .
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,
17 because he didn’t kill me from the womb . So my mother would have been my grave , and her womb always great .
18 Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow , that my days should be consumed with shame ?