1Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest , who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD , heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things . 2Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet , and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin , which was by the house of the LORD . 3And it came to pass on the morrow , that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks . Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur , but Magor-missabib . 4For thus saith the LORD , Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends : and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies , and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon , and he shall carry them captive into Babylon , and shall slay them with the sword . 5Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city , and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies , which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon . 6And thou, Pashur , and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity : and thou shalt come to Babylon , and there thou shalt die , and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends , to whom thou hast prophesied lies .
The Assurance of God's Presence
7O 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. 8For 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 . 9Then 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 . 10For 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. 11But 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 . 12But, 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 . 13Sing unto the LORD , praise ye the LORD : for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers .
A Call to Praise
14Cursed be the day wherein I was born : let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed . 15Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father , saying , A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad . 16And 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 ; 17Because 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 . 18Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow , that my days should be consumed with shame ?