1NOW Pashur the son of Amariah the priest, who was governor in charge of the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah the prophet prophesying these things. 2Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper 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 to him, The LORD has not called your name Pashur, but a stranger and a beggar. 4For thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a sojourner, you and your friends; and the people shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it; and I shall deliver 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 fortified places of this city and all the labor thereof; and all its precious things and all the treasures of the king of Judah will I deliver into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them and take them and carry them to Babylon. 6And as for you, Pashur, you and all the members of your household shall go into captivity; and you shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and there you shall be buried, you, and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.

7O LORD, thou hast comforted me, and I am comforted; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed; I have become a laughing-stock daily, every one mocks me.

8For at the time when I spoke and cried out, I spoke against the extortioners and against the robbers; because the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision daily.

9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word became in my heart like a burning fire kindling in my bones; and I sought to be patient, but I could not endure it.

10For I heard the evil intentions of many, who were gathering from every side inquiring of my peace with their mouth, but hating me in their heart, saying, Point him out to us; we will stand against him; perhaps we can win him over and we shall take our revenge on him.

11But the LORD is with me as a mighty warrior; therefore all my persecutors shall be ashamed, and they shall not prevail; they have been greatly ashamed because they did not understand; their everlasting shame shall never be forgotten.

12But, O LORD of hosts, who observest the right cause and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them; for to thee have I revealed my cause.

13Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD; for he has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

14Cursed be the day on which I was born; let not the day on which my mother bore me be blessed.

15Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A son is born to you, making him very glad.

16Let that man be like the cities which the LORD overthrew, and he was never reconciled towards them; and let him hear the cry in the morning and the howling at noon.

17Because he did not slay me in the womb, so that my mother might have been my grave, and my conception would have remained in the womb for ever.

18Why did I come forth out of the womb to see toil and sorrow? My days are spent in shame.