1 CHAP. XX. When Pashur the son of Immer the priest (who was also the commanding officer in the house of JEHOVAH) heard Jeremiah prophesying 2 these things: then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and committed him to the house of correction, which was in the higher gate of Benja3 min, which was near the house of JEHOVAH. And it came to pass the next day, when Pashur released Jeremiah out of the house of correction, that Jeremiah said unto him, JEHOVAH hath called thy name not Pashur, but Magor-missabib. 4 For thus saith JEHOVAH, Behold I am about to make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, thine eyes also looking on; and all Judah will I give into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive unto Babylon, and shall smite them with the sword. 5 And I will give all the strength of this city, and all its industry, and all that is valuable in it, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hands of their enemies, and they shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them 6 to Babylon. And thou Pashur, and all that dwell in thy house, ye shall go into captivity; and thou shalt enter Babylon, and there thou shalt die; and there thou shalt be buried, thou and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied falsely. 7 THOU didst allure me, O JEHOVAH, and I was allured; Thou didst encourage me, and didst prevail; M I am become a laughing stock every day, Ridicule hath spent its whole force upon me. 8 For as often as I speak, Whether I cry out against injustice, or proclaim devastation, The word of JEHOVAH is turned against me Into matter of reproach and derision continually. 9 But when I say, I will not make mention of it, Neither will I speak any more in its name; Then it becomes in my heart as a burning fire, being pent up within my bones: And though I weary myself with refraining, I find it not in my power. 10 Surely I have heard the babbling of many, [saying] Report ye terror all around, and we will report it : All my familiar friends watch for my halting, Perhaps [say they] he may be drawn aside, so that we may prevail against him, 11 And we may take our revenge of him. But JEHOVAH is on my side, as a formidable champion; Therefore shall my persecutors stumble, and shall not prevail; They are exceedingly ashamed, because they have not succeeded, With an everlasting shame, that shall not be forgotten. 12 And, O JEHOVAH of hosts, who puttest the righteous to trial, Who discernest the reins and the heart, I shall see thy vengeance upon them, For unto thee have I laid open my wrongs. 13 Sing ye to JEHOVAH, praise ye JEHOVAH, Because he hath delivered the soul of the poor out of the hand of evil-doers. 14 CURSED be the day on which I was born, The day on which my mother bare me, let it not be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, Saying, There is a male child born unto thee; 16 And let that man be as the cities, Which JEHOVAH overthrew, and repented not; 17 Who did not slay me from the womb, So that my mother might have been my grave, ever. 18 Wherefore came I forth from the womb, 1 To experience disquietude and sorrow, CHAP. XXII. THUS said JEHOVAH; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and thou shalt speak there this word, and shalt say, HEAR the word of JEHOVAH, O king of Judah, That sittest upon the throne of David, Thou, and thy servants, and thy people, That enter in through these gates: 3 Thus saith JEHOVAH; Do right and justice, And deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the And the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, Neither shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if ye shall indeed do according to this word, Then shall there enter in through the gates of this house Kings sitting in the stead of David upon his throne, Riding in chariots, and upon horses, [Each one] himself, and his servants, and his people. 5 But if ye will not hearken unto these words, By myself have I sworn, saith JEHOVAH, Surely this house shall become a desolation. 6 For thus hath JEHOVAH said Concerning the house of the king of Judah; non; Surely I will make thee a desart, Cities not inhabited. 7 And I will commission against thee destroyers, Every man and his weapons; And they shall cut down the choice of thy cedars, 8 And many nations shall pass by this city, Wherefore hath JEHOVAH done thus unto this great city? 9 Then shall they answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of JEHOVAH their God, 10 And they have worshipped strange gods, and served them. WEEP ye not for him that is dead, Weep ye sorely for him that is gone away, Nor see his native land. Concerning Shallum the son of Josiah king of Who reigned instead of Josiah his father, He shall not return thither any more: 12 But in the place, whither they have carried him away captive, he shall die, 13 And shall see this land no more. Wo unto him that buildeth his house with injustice, And his upper apartments with wrong; That exacteth his neighbour's service for nought, 14 That saith, I will build for myself A spacious house, and lofty apartments. And ceiling with cedar, and painting with ver- 15 Shalt thou reign, because thou frettest thyself in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, And do right and justice? Then he enjoyed prosperity. 16 He maintained the cause of the afflicted and needy; Was not this then prosperity, The knowing of me? saith JEHOVAH. 17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not 18 But upon thine inordinate desires, And upon the blood of the innocent, to shed [it], And upon oppression and upon extortion, to practise [it]. Therefore thus saith JEHOVAH |