Jeremías 20

1 Y Pasur sacerdote, hijo de Imer, que presidía por príncipe en la Casa del SEÑOR, oyó a Jeremías que profetizaba estas palabras

2 E hirió Pasur a Jeremías profeta, y lo puso en el calabozo que estaba a la puerta de Benjamín en lo alto, la cual está en la casa del SEÑOR

3 Y el día siguiente Pasur sacó a Jeremías del calabozo. Y le dijo Jeremías: El SEÑOR no ha llamado tu nombre Pasur {Heb. Prosperidad alrededor}, sino Magor-misabib (Heb. Miedo de todas partes).

4 Porque así dijo el SEÑOR: He aquí yo te pondré en espanto a ti, y a todos los que bien te quieren, y caerán por la espada de sus enemigos, y tus ojos lo verán; y a todo Judá entregaré en mano del rey de Babilonia, y los transportará a Babilonia, y los herirá a espada

5 Y daré toda la sustancia de esta ciudad, y todo su trabajo, y todas sus cosas preciosas; y todos los tesoros de los reyes de Judá daré en manos de sus enemigos, y los saquearán, y los tomarán, y los llevarán a Babilonia

6 Y tú, Pasur, y todos los moradores de tu casa iréis cautivos, y entrarás en Babilonia, y allí morirás, y allá serás enterrado, tú, y todos los que bien te quieren, a los cuales has profetizado con mentira

7 Me sedujiste, oh SEÑOR, y fui seducido; más fuerte fuiste que yo, y me venciste; cada día he sido escarnecido; cada cual se burla de mí

8 Porque desde que hablo, doy voces, grito: Violencia y destrucción; porque la palabra del SEÑOR me ha sido para afrenta y escarnio cada día

9 Y dije: No me acordaré más de él, ni hablaré más en su nombre. Pero, fue en mi corazón como un fuego ardiente y metido en mis huesos; trabajé por sufrirlo, y no pude

10 Porque oí la murmuración de muchos, temor de todas partes: Denunciad, y denunciaremos. Todos mis amigos miraban si cojearía. Por ventura se engañará, decían, y prevaleceremos contra él, y tomaremos de él nuestra venganza

11 Mas el SEÑOR está conmigo como poderoso gigante; por tanto los que me persiguen tropezarán, y no prevalecerán; serán avergonzados en gran manera, porque no prosperarán; tendrán perpetua confusión que jamás será olvidada

12 Oh SEÑOR de los ejércitos, que examinas lo justo, que ves los riñones y el corazón, vea yo tu venganza de ellos; porque a ti he descubierto mi causa

13 Cantad al SEÑOR, load al SEÑOR; porque ha librado el alma del pobre de mano de los malignos

14 Maldito el día en que nací; el día en que mi madre me dio a luz no sea bendito

15 Maldito el hombre que dio nuevas a mi padre, diciendo: Hijo varón te ha nacido, haciéndole alegrarse así mucho

16 Y sea el tal hombre como las ciudades que asoló el SEÑOR, y no se arrepintió; y oiga gritos de mañana, y voces al mediodía

17 porque no me mató en el vientre, y mi madre hubiera sido mi sepulcro, y su vientre concebimiento perpetuo

18 ¿Para qué salí del vientre? ¿Para ver trabajo y dolor, y que mis días se gastaran en afrenta

Jeremías 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

The doom of Pashur, who ill-treated the prophet. (1-6) Jeremiah complains of hard usage. (7-13) He regrets his ever having been born. (14-18)

Verses 1-6 Pashur smote Jeremiah, and put him in the stocks. Jeremiah was silent till God put a word into his mouth. To confirm this, Pashur has a name given him, "Fear on every side." It speaks a man not only in distress, but in despair; not only in danger, but in fear on every side. The wicked are in great fear where no fear is, for God can make the most daring sinner a terror to himself. And those who will not hear of their faults from God's prophets, shall be made to hear them from their consciences. Miserable is the man thus made a terror to himself. His friends shall fail him. God lets him live miserably, that he may be a monument of Divine justice.

Verses 7-13 The prophet complains of the insult and injury he experienced. But ver. ( 7 ) may be read, Thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded. Thou wast stronger than I; and didst overpower me by the influence of thy Spirit upon me. So long as we see ourselves in the way of God, and of duty, it is weakness and folly, when we meet with difficulties and discouragements, to wish we had never set out in it. The prophet found the grace of God mighty in him to keep him to his business, notwithstanding the temptation he was in to throw it up. Whatever injuries are done to us, we must leave them to that God to whom vengeance belongs, and who has said, I will repay. So full was he of the comfort of God's presence, the Divine protection he was under, and the Divine promise he had to depend upon, that he stirred up himself and others to give God the glory. Let the people of God open their cause before Him, and he will enable them to see deliverance.

Verses 14-18 When grace has the victory, it is good to be ashamed of our folly, to admire the goodness of God, and be warned to guard our spirits another time. See how strong the temptation was, over which the prophet got the victory by Divine assistance! He is angry that his first breath was not his last. While we remember that these wishes are not recorded for us to utter the like, we may learn good lessons from them. See how much those who think they stand, ought to take heed lest they fall, and to pray daily, Lead us not into temptation. How frail, changeable, and sinful is man! How foolish and unnatural are the thoughts and wishes of our hearts, when we yield to discontent! Let us consider Him who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we should be at any time weary and faint in our minds under our lesser trials.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 20

This chapter gives an account of the usage that Jeremiah met with from many for his prophecies, and the effect it had upon him. He was smitten and put in the stocks by Pashur the priest, who released him the next day, Jer 20:1-3; upon which he prophesies again of the delivery of the city of Jerusalem, with all its riches, and of the whole land, to the Chaldeans; and particularly that Pashur should be a terror to himself and all his friends; and that both he and they should be carried captive into Babylon, and die, and be buried there, Jer 20:4-6; and then he complains of his being mocked at by the people for the word of the Lord; which he therefore determined to make no more mention of, but was obliged to it; and of the defamations of him, and snares that were laid for him, Jer 20:7-10; under which he is supported with the consideration of the Lord's being with him, and that his enemies should not prevail, but be confounded; and appeals to him, and calls for vengeance from him on them; and, in the view of deliverance, not only praises the Lord himself, but calls upon others to join with him in it, Jer 20:11-13; and yet, after all, the chapter is concluded with his cursing the day of his birth, and the man that brought his father the news of it, Jer 20:14-18.