Jeremiah 20:8-10

International Children’s Bible

⁸ Every time I speak, I shout.
    I am always shouting about violence and destruction.
I tell the people about the message I received from the Lord.
    But this only brings me insults. The people make fun of me all day long.
⁹ Sometimes I say to myself,
    “I will forget about the Lord.
    I will not speak anymore in his name.”
But then the Lord’s message becomes like a burning fire inside me.
    It feels like it burns deep within my bones.
I get tired of trying to hold the Lord’s message inside of me.
    And finally, I cannot hold it in.
¹⁰ I hear many people whispering about me:
    “Terror on every side!
    Let’s tell the rulers about him.”
My friends are all just waiting for me to make some mistake.
    They are saying,
“Maybe we can trick Jeremiah.
    Then we can defeat him.
    Then we can pay him back.”