Pashhur son of Immer, priest and chief officer in the temple, hears Jeremiah’s words.
Jeremiah 20:1-6
1 Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in Yahweh’s house, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
Jeremiah is physically abused and publicly humiliated at the Upper Gate of Benjamin.
2 Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in Yahweh’s house.
The LORD renames Pashhur Magor-Missabib, Terror on Every Side.
3 On the next day, Pashhur released Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “Yahweh has not called your name Pashhur, but Magormissabib.
Pashhur will see his friends fall by the sword and will be filled with terror.
4 For Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes will see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will carry them captive to Babylon, and will kill them with the sword.
The city’s wealth, produce, valuables, and royal treasures will be given to enemies and carried to Babylon.
5 Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all its gains, and all its precious things, yes, I will give all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies. They will make them captives, take them, and carry them to Babylon.
Pashhur and those to whom he prophesied lies will go into exile and die in Babylon.
6 You, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house will go into captivity. You will come to Babylon, and there you will die, and there you will be buried, you, and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied falsely.’ ”
Jeremiah cries that the LORD persuaded or overpowered him, leaving him mocked all day long.
Jeremiah 20:7-13
7 Yahweh, you have persuaded me, and I was persuaded. You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day. Everyone mocks me.
Because he cries violence and destruction, the word of the LORD brings insult and reproach.
8 For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, “Violence and destruction!” because Yahweh’s word has been made a reproach to me, and a derision, all day.
When Jeremiah tries not to speak, the word becomes like fire shut up in his bones, and he cannot hold it in.
9 If I say, I will not make mention of him, or speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary with holding it in. I can’t.
Many whisper 'Terror on every side,' and even friends watch for Jeremiah to stumble.
10 For I have heard the defaming of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”
Jeremiah’s persecutors will stumble and fail because the LORD is with him.
11 But Yahweh is with me as an awesome mighty one. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they won’t prevail. They will be utterly disappointed, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which will never be forgotten.
Jeremiah asks the righteous Judge to let him see vengeance on his persecutors.
12 But Yahweh of Armies, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my cause to you.
Jeremiah sings to the LORD who rescues the needy from the hands of the wicked.
13 Sing to Yahweh! Praise Yahweh, for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
Jeremiah’s anguish erupts into a birth lament.
Jeremiah 20:14-18
14 Cursed is the day in which I was born. Don’t let the day in which my mother bore me be blessed.
He curses the man who announced his birth and wishes that man had been like cities overthrown without pity.
15 Cursed is the man who brought news to my father, saying, “A boy is born to you,” making him very glad.
16 Let that man be as the cities which Yahweh overthrew, and didn’t repent. Let him hear a cry in the morning, and shouting at noontime;
17 because he didn’t kill me from the womb. So my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great.
He laments that his life has been trouble, sorrow, and shame.
18 Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?