Jeremiah 20:7-18

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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
13 Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers .
14 Cursed be the day wherein I was born : let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed .
15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying , A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad .
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 * ;
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.
18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. was deceived: or, was enticed
The King James Version is in the public domain.