Jeremiah 20:7-18

7Adonai, You enticed me, so I was enticed. You overpowered me, and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long. Everyone mocks me.

8For whenever I speak, I cry out, I proclaim, “Violence and ruin!” For the word of Adonai is scorn and ridicule to me all day long.

9But if I say: “I won’t mention Him, or speak any more in His Name,” then it is like fire burning in my heart— shut up in my bones— I weary myself holding it in, but I cannot.

10For I heard the whispering of many: “‘Terror on every side?’ Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” Even all my close friends are watching for my fall: “Perhaps he may be deceived, so we’ll get the better of him, and we’ll get our revenge on him.”

11But Adonai is with me like a dreadful warrior. Therefore my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. Since they are not insightful and not wise, they will be utterly shamed— an everlasting disgrace, never to be forgotten.

12Yet, Adonai–Tzva’ot— testing the righteous, seeing the mind and the heart, let me see Your vengeance on them! For to You have I presented my case.

13Sing to Adonai, praise Adonai! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers.

14Cursed be the day I was born! The day that my mother bore me— may it never be blessed!

15Cursed be the one who brought the news to my father, saying, “A baby boy is born to you!” making him so glad.

16Now let that one be like the cities which Adonai overturned, with no relenting— let him hear a cry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon,

17since he did not kill me in the womb, so my mother might have been my grave—her womb filled forever.

18Why did I ever come forth out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow, and my days end in shame?