Jeremías 18:18-23

18 Ellos dijeron: «Vengan, tramemos un plan contra Jeremías. Porque no le faltará la ley al sacerdote, ni el consejo al sabio, ni la palabra al profeta. Ataquémoslo de palabra, y no hagamos caso de nada de lo que diga».

19 ¡SEÑOR, préstame atención!¡Escucha a los que me acusan!

20 ¿Acaso el bien se paga con el mal?¡Pues ellos me han cavado una fosa!Recuerda que me presenté ante tipara interceder por ellos,para apartar de ellos tu ira.

21 Por eso, entrega ahora sus hijos al hambre;abandónalos a merced de la espada.Que sus esposas se queden viudas y sin hijos;que sus maridos mueran asesinados,y que sus jóvenes caigan en combate a filo de espada.

22 ¡Que se oigan los gritos desde sus casas,cuando de repente mandes contra ellosuna banda de asaltantes!Han cavado una fosa para atraparme,y han puesto trampas a mi paso.

23 Pero tú, SEÑOR, conocestodos sus planes para matarme.¡No perdones su iniquidad,ni borres de tu presencia sus pecados!¡Que caigan derribados ante ti!¡Enfréntate a ellos en el momento de tu ira!

Jeremías 18:18-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 18

This chapter expresses the sovereign power of God ever his creatures, and his usual methods of dealing with them; it threatens destruction to the Jews for their idolatry; and is closed with the prophet's complaint of his persecutors, and with imprecations upon them. The sovereign power of God is expressed under the simile of a potter working in his shop, and making and marring vessels at pleasure, Jer 18:1-4; the application of which to God, and the house of Israel, is in Jer 18:5,6; and is illustrated by his usual dealings with kingdoms and nations; for though he is a sovereign Being, yet he acts both in a kind and equitable way; and as the potter changes his work, so he changes the dispensations of his providence, of which two instances are given; the one is, that having threatened ruin to a nation, upon their repentance and good behaviour he revokes the threatening, Jer 18:7,8; and the other is, that having made a declaration of good to a people, upon their sin and disobedience he recalls it, and punishes them for their wickedness, Jer 18:9,10; then follows a prophecy of the destruction of the Jews in particular, in which they are exhorted to repentance to prevent it; their obstinacy is observed; their folly in departing from God, and worshipping idols, is exposed; and they are threatened with utter ruin, Jer 18:11-17; the conspiracy and evil designs of the Jews against the prophet, their malice and ingratitude, are complained of by him, Jer 18:18-20; his imprecations upon them, and prayers for their destruction, are delivered out in Jer 18:21-23.