Jeremias 18:18-23

18 Então disseram: “Venham! Façamos planos contra Jeremias, pois não cessará o ensino da lei pelo sacerdote nem o conselho do sábio nem a mensagem do profeta. Venham! Façamos acusações contra ele e não ouçamos nada do que ele disser”.

19 Atende-me, ó SENHOR;ouve o que os meus acusadores estão dizendo!

20 Acaso se paga o bem com o mal?Mas eles cavaram uma cova para mim.Lembra-te de que eu compareci diante de tipara interceder em favor deles,para que desviasses deles a tua ira.

21 Por isso entrega os filhos deles à fomee ao poder da espada.Que as suas mulheres fiquem viúvas e sem filhos;que os seus homens sejam mortos,e os seus rapazes sejam mortos à espada na batalha.

22 Seja ouvido o grito que vem de suas casas,quando repentinamente trouxeres invasores contra eles;pois cavaram uma cova para me capturareme esconderam armadilhas para os meus pés.

23 Mas tu conheces, ó SENHOR,todas as suas conspirações para me matarem.Não perdoes os seus crimesnem apagues de diante da tua vista os seus pecados.Sejam eles derrubados diante de ti;age contra eles na hora da tua ira!

Jeremias 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.