14 Cursed be the (A)day when I was born;
May the day when my mother gave birth to me not be blessed!
15 Cursed be the man who brought the news
To my father, saying,
“A [a](B)boy has been born to you!”
And made him very happy.
16 But may that man be like the cities
Which the Lord (C)overthrew without [b]relenting,
And may he hear an (D)outcry in the morning
And [c]an alarm for war at noon;
17 Because he did not (E)kill me [d]before birth,
So that my mother would have been my grave,
And her womb forever pregnant.
18 Why did I ever come out of the womb
To (F)look at trouble and sorrow,
So that my (G)days have been spent in (H)shame?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 20:15 Lit male child
  2. Jeremiah 20:16 Lit being sorry
  3. Jeremiah 20:16 Or a trumpet blast
  4. Jeremiah 20:17 Lit from the womb

14 Cursed be the day I was born!(A)
    May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
15 Cursed be the man who brought my father the news,
    who made him very glad, saying,
    “A child is born to you—a son!”
16 May that man be like the towns(B)
    the Lord overthrew without pity.
May he hear wailing(C) in the morning,
    a battle cry at noon.
17 For he did not kill me in the womb,(D)
    with my mother as my grave,
    her womb enlarged forever.
18 Why did I ever come out of the womb(E)
    to see trouble(F) and sorrow
    and to end my days in shame?(G)

Read full chapter