Jeremiah's Persecution and Lament

Jeremiah 20

Pashur the priest strikes Jeremiah and confines him for his prophecies, and upon his release Jeremiah tells him that the Lord has renamed him Terror and will send him and all Judah into captivity in Babylon. Jeremiah then pours out a bitter personal lament, torn between his inability to stop proclaiming the Lord's word and his anguish at the mockery and suffering it brings him, even cursing the day of his own birth.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonWHEREUPON Paschor son of Emmer, the priest who was appointed ruler of the house of the Lord, when he heard Jeremias prophesying these words,

BrentonNow Paschor the son of Emmer, the priest, who also had been appointed chief of the house of the Lord, heard Jeremias prophesying these words.

GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσε Πασχὼρ ὁ υἱὸς Ἑμμὴρ ὁ ἱερεὺς, καὶ οὗτος ἦν καθεσταμένος ἡγούμενος οἴκου Κυρίου, τοῦ Ἱερεμίου προφητεύοντος τοὺς λόγους τούτους.

KJVNow Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

JPSNow Pashhur the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.

Thomsonsmote him and committed him to the prison which was in the upper story of the gate to the house of the Lord.

BrentonAnd he smote him, and cast him into the dungeon which was by the gate of the upper house that was set apart, which was by the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν, καὶ ἐνέβαλεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸν καταράκτην, ὃς ἦν ἐν πύλῃ οἴκου ἀποτεταγμένου τοῦ ὑπερῴου, ὃς ἦν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου.

KJVThen Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

JPSThen Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of the LORD.

ThomsonAnd when Paschor took Jeremias out of prison, Jeremias said to him, He hath not called thy name Paschor, but Exile.

BrentonAnd Paschor brought Jeremias out of the dungeon: and Jeremias said to him, The Lord has not called thy name Paschor, but Exile.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξήγαγε Πασχὼρ τὸν Ἱερεμίαν ἐκ τοῦ καταράκτου· καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ Ἱερεμίας, οὐχὶ Πασχὼρ ἐκάλεσε τὸ ὄνομά σου, ἀλλʼ ἢ Μέτοικον.

KJVAnd 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 Magormissabib.

JPSAnd it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashhur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him: ‘The LORD hath not called thy name Pashhur, but Magormissabib.

ThomsonFor thus saith the Lord, Behold I will send thee with all thy friends into exile; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies and thine eyes shall see it. I will deliver thee and all Juda into the hands of the king of Babylon; and they shall be exiled and slain with swords.

BrentonFor thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will give thee up to captivity with all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall see it: and I will give thee and all Juda into the hands of the king of Babylon, and they shall carry them captives, and cut them in pieces with swords.

GreekΔιότι τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ δίδωμί σε εἰς μετοικίαν σὺν πᾶσι τοῖς φίλοις σου· καὶ πεσοῦνται ἐν μαχαίρᾳ ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου ὄψονται· καὶ σὲ καὶ πάντα Ἰούδα δώσω εἰς χεῖρας βασιλέως Βαβυλῶνος, καὶ μετοικιοῦσιν αὐτοὺς, καὶ κατακόψουσιν ἐν μαχαίραις.

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

JPSFor thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; 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 to Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.

ThomsonAnd I will deliver all the strength of this city and all the labours thereof and all the treasures carry them to Babylon.

BrentonAnd I will give all the strength of this city, and all the labours of it, and all the treasures of the king of Juda, into the hands of his enemies, and they shall bring them to Babylon.

GreekΚαὶ δώσω τὴν πᾶσαν ἰσχὺν τῆς πόλεως ταύτης, καὶ πάντας τοὺς πόνους αὐτῆς, καὶ πάντας τοὺς θησαυροὺς τοῦ βασιλέως Ἰούδα εἰς χεῖρας ἐχθρῶν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἄξουσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς Βαβυλῶνα.

KJVMoreover I will deliver 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 give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

JPSMoreover I will give all the store of this city, and all the gains thereof, and all the wealth thereof, yea, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, who shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

ThomsonAnd thou and all that dwell in thy house shall go into captivity and thou shalt die in Babylon and be buried there, thou and all thy friends to whom thou hast prophesied falsehoods.

BrentonAnd thou and all the dwellers in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt die in Babylon, and there thou and all thy friends shall be buried, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

GreekΚαὶ σὺ καὶ πάντες οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου, πορεύσεσθε ἐν αἰχμαλωσίᾳ, καὶ ἐν Βαβυλῶνι ἀποθανῇ, καὶ ἐκεῖ ταφήσῃ σὺ καὶ πάντες οἱ φίλοι σου, οἷς ἐπροφήτευσας αὐτοῖς ψευδῆ.

KJVAnd 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 lies.

JPSAnd thou, Pashhur, and all that dwell in thy house shall go into captivity; and thou

ThomsonHast thou, O Lord deceived me? and have I been deceived? Thou hast taken hold and hast prevailed. I am become a subject of laughter: all the day long I endure reproach.

BrentonThou hast deceived me, O Lord, and I have been deceived: thou hast been strong, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughing-stock, I am continually mocked every day.

GreekἨπάτησάς με Κύριε, καὶ ἠπατήθην, ἐκράτησας, καὶ ἠδυνάσθης· ἐγενόμην εἰς γέλωτα, πᾶσαν ἡμέραν διετέλεσα μυκτηριζόμενος·

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

JPSO LORD, Thou hast enticed me, and I was enticed, Thou hast overcome me, and hast prevailed; I am become a laughing-stock all the day, Every one mocketh me.

ThomsonBecause I am to be derided for my bitter word, shall I appeal to a breach of covenant and misery? because the word of the Lord became a reproach to me-a subject of mockery all the day long.

BrentonFor I will laugh with my bitter speech, I will call upon rebellion and misery: for the word of the Lord is become a reproach to me and a mockery all my days.

GreekὍτι πικρῷ λόγῳ μου γελάσομαι, ἀθεσίαν καὶ ταλαιπωρίαν ἐπικαλέσομαι, ὅτι ἐγενήθη λόγος Κυρίου εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν ἐμοὶ καὶ εἰς χλευασμὸν πᾶσαν ἡμέραν μου.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonTherefore I said, I will not name the name of the Lord-I will not speak anymore in His name. But there was kindled as it were a burning fire in my bones and I became dejected and cannot bear it

BrentonThen I said, I will by no means name the name of the Lord, and I will no more at all speak in his name. But it was as burning fire flaming in my bones, and I am utterly weakened on all sides, and cannot bear up.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, οὐ μὴ ὀνομάσω τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου, καὶ οὐ μὴ λαλήσω ἔτι ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐγένετο ὡς πῦρ καιόμενον φλέγον ἐν τοῖς ὀστοῖς μου, καὶ παρεῖμαι πάντοθεν, καὶ οὐ δύναμαι φέρειν,

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

JPSAnd if I say: ‘I will not make mention of Him, Nor 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 weary myself to hold it in, But cannot.

Thomsonbecause I heard the whisper of many collected from all around saying: Join in conspiracy and let us all conspire against him; ye men who are his friends watch his thoughts; if he can be deceived, we shall then prevail over him and take our revenge on him.

BrentonFor I have heard the reproach of many gathering round, saying, Conspire ye, and let us conspire together against him, even all his friends: watch his intentions, if perhaps he shall be deceived, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall be avenged on him.

Greekὅτι ἤκουσα ψόγον πολλῶν συναθροιζομένων κυκλόθεν, ἐπισύστητε, καὶ ἐπισυστῶμεν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάντες ἄνδρες φιλοι αὐτοῦ· τηρήσατε τὴν ἐπίνοιαν αὐτοῦ, εἰ ἀπατηθήσεται, καὶ δυνησόμεθα αὐτῷ, καὶ ληψόμεθα τὴν ἐκδίκησιν ἡμῶν ἐξ αὐτοῦ.

KJVFor I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

JPSFor I have heard the whispering of many, Terror on every side: ‘Denounce, and we will denounce him’; Even of all my familiar friends, Them that watch for my halting: ‘Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, And we shall take our revenge on him.’

ThomsonBut the Lord was with me as a mighty warrior, therefore they persecuted and could not contrive. They were put to great i.,. confusion. Because they had not a due sense of their infamous practices, which are never to be forgotten.

BrentonBut the Lord was with me as a mighty man of war: therefore they persecuted me, but could not perceive anything against me; they were greatly confounded, for they perceived not their disgrace, which shall never be forgotten.

GreekὉ δὲ κύριος μετʼ ἐμοῦ καθὼς μαχητὴς ἰσχύων· διατοῦτο ἐδίωξαν, καὶ νοῆσαι οὐκ ἠδύναντο· ᾐσχύνθησαν σφόδρα, ὅτι οὐκ ἐνόησαν ἀτιμίας αὐτῶν, αἳ διʼ αἰῶνος οὐκ ἐπιλησθήσονται.

KJVBut the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

JPSBut the LORD is with me as a mighty warrior; Therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; They shall be greatly ashamed, because they have not prospered, Even with an everlasting confusion which shall never be forgotten.

ThomsonO Lord, who provest righteous things, who knowest the reins and hearts [of men], I might have seen Thy vengeance on them. For to Thee I laid open my cause.

BrentonO Lord, that provest just deeds, understanding the reins and hearts, let me see thy vengeance upon them: for to thee I have revealed my cause.

GreekΚύριε δοκιμάζων δίκαια, συνιῶν νεφροὺς καὶ καρδίας, ἴδοιμι τὴν παρὰ σοῦ ἐκδίκησιν ἐν αὐτοῖς, ὅτι πρὸς σὲ ἀπεκάλυψα τὰ ἀπολογήματά μου.

KJVBut, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

JPSBut, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, That seest the reins and the heart, Let me see Thy vengeance on them; For unto Thee have I revealed my cause.

ThomsonSing to the Lord; sing praises to Him, because He hath rescued the soul of the needy out of the hand of evil doers.

BrentonSing ye to the Lord, sing praise to him: for he has rescued the soul of the poor from the hand of evil-doers.

GreekἌσατε τῷ Κυρίῳ, αἰνέσατε αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἐξείλατο τὴν ψυχὴν πένητος ἐκ χειρὸς πονηρευομένων.

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

JPSSing unto the LORD, Praise ye the LORD; For He hath delivered the soul of the needy From the hand of evil-doers.

ThomsonLet the day be cursed on which I was born—the day on which my mother bore me. Let it not be mentioned with expressions of joy.

BrentonCursed be the day wherein I was born: the day wherein my mother brought me forth, let it not be blessed.

GreekἘπικατάρατος ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἐτέχθην ἐν αὐτῇ· ἡ ἡμέρα ἐν ᾗ ἔτεκέν με ἡ μήτηρ μου, μὴ ἔστω ἐπευκτή.

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

JPSCursed be the day Wherein I was born; The day wherein my mother bore me, Let it not be blessed.

ThomsonLet the man be cursed who brought tidings to my father saying, A male child is born to thee, making him glad.

BrentonCursed be the man who brought the glad tidings to my father, saying, A male child is born to thee.

GreekἘπικατάρατος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ὁ εὐαγγελισάμενος τῷ πατρί μου λέγων, ἐτέχθη σοι ἄρσην· εὐφραινόμενος

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

JPSCursed be the man who brought tidings To my father, saying: ‘A man-child is born unto thee’; Making him very glad.

ThomsonLet that man be like the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath and relented not, Let him hear a scream in the morning and the cry of woe at noon-day,

BrentonLet that man rejoice as the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath, and repented not: let him hear crying in the morning, and loud lamentation at noon;

Greekἔστω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος, ὡς αἱ πόλεις ἃς κατέστρεψε Κύριος ἐν θυμῷ καὶ οὐ μετεμελήθη· ἀκουσάτω κραυγῆς τῷ πρωὶ, καὶ ἀλαλαγμοῦ μεσημβρίας,

KJVAnd let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;

JPSAnd let that man be as the cities Which the LORD overthrew, and repented not; And let him hear a cry in the morning, And an alarm at noontide;

Thomsonbecause He did not kill me in the womb, and my mother was not made my grave, and her womb always with child.

Brentonbecause he slew me not in the womb, and my mother became not my tomb, and her womb always great with me.

Greekὅτι οὐκ ἀπέκτεινέ με ἐν μήτρᾳ, καὶ ἐγένετό μοι ἡ μήτηρ μου τάφος μου, καὶ ἡ μήτρα συλλήψεως αἰωνίας.

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

JPSBecause He slew me not from the womb; And so my mother would have been my grave, And her womb always great.

ThomsonTo what purpose this? I came forth from the womb to see labours and sorrows, and my days have been spent in shame.

BrentonWhy is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

GreekἹνατί τοῦτο ἐξῆλθον ἐκ μήτρας, τοῦ βλέπειν κόπους καὶ πόνους, καὶ διετέλεσαν ἐν αἰσχύνῃ αἱ ἡμέραι μου;

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

JPSWherefore came I forth out of the womb To see labour and sorrow, That my days should be consumed in shame?