Jeremiah, 20

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

1. When the priest Pashur, son of Immer, who was the chief officer in the House of Yahweh, heard Jeremiah prophesying like this,

2. Then 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.

2. he ordered his people to beat Jeremiah and put him in chains at the Gate of Benjamin, the upper gate at the House of Yahweh.

3. And 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.

3. The next day, after Pashur ordered the release of Jeremiah, the latter told the former, "Yahweh has already changed your name. It is not Pashur anymore but 'Terror on every side.'

4. For 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.

4. For Yahweh says: I am going to hand you over to terror, you and your friends. They will fall under the sword of their enemies while you look on. I will deliver the people of Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon who will deport them to Babylon or slay them by the sword.

5. Moreover 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.

5. I will likewise allow the enemies plunder all the wealth of this city. All the possessions and treasures of the kings of Judah will be seized and carried off to Babylonia.

6. And 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.

6. As for you, Pashur, you and your entire family will be taken as captives to Babylon where you will die and be buried - you and all your friends whom you deceived with lies."

7. O 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.

7. Yahweh, you have seduced me and I let myself be seduced. You have taken me by force and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; they all make fun of me,

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

8. for every time I speak I have to shout, "Violence! Devastation!" Yahweh's word has brought me insult and derision all day long.

9. Then 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].

9. So I decided to forget about him and speak no more in his name. But his word in my heart becomes like a fire burning deep within my bones. I try so hard to hold it in, but I cannot do it.

10. For 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.

10. I hear many people whispering, "Terror is all around! Denounce him! Yes, denounce him!" All my friends watch me to see if I will slip: "Perhaps he can be deceived," they say; "then we can get the better of him and have our revenge."

11. But 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.

11. But Yahweh, a mighty warrior, is with me. My persecutors will stumble and not prevail; that failure will be their shame and their disgrace will never be forgotten.

12. But, 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.

12. Yahweh, God of hosts, you test the just and probe the heart and mind. Let me see your revenge on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.

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

13. Sing to Yahweh! Praise Yahweh and say: he has rescued the poor from the clutches of the wicked!

14. Cursed [be] the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

14. Cursed be the day I was born! Bless not the day my mother brought me to light!

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

15. Cursed be the man who broke the news to my father: 'It's a boy!' and it made him joyful!

16. And 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;

16. Let him be like the towns that Yahweh destroyed without mercy. Let him hear a warning shout in the morning and a battle cry at noon!

17. Because 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].

17. For he did not kill me in the womb, that my mother would have been my grave, and have carried me forever.

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

18. Why did I ever leave the womb to live in trouble and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?