Jeremiah 18:18–23

¹⁸They said, “Come, let’s make plans^r against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest^s will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise,^t nor the word from the prophets.^u So come, let’s attack him with our tongues^v and pay no attention to anything he says.”

¹⁹Listen to me, Lord;

hear what my accusers^w are saying!

²⁰Should good be repaid with evil?^x

Yet they have dug a pit^y for me.

Remember that I stood^z before you

and spoke in their behalf^a

to turn your wrath away from them.

²¹So give their children over to famine;^b

hand them over to the power of the sword.^c

Let their wives be made childless and widows;^d

let their men be put to death,

their young men^e slain by the sword in battle.

²²Let a cry^f be heard from their houses

when you suddenly bring invaders against them,

for they have dug a pit^g to capture me

and have hidden snares^h for my feet.

²³But you, Lord, know

all their plots to killⁱ me.

Do not forgive^j their crimes

or blot out their sins from your sight.

Let them be overthrown before you;

deal with them in the time of your anger.^k