Jeremiah’s Prayer

19 O Jehovah, give heed unto me,

And hearken to my contention.

20 Shall evil be rendered for good

That a pit they have dug for my life?

Call to mind how I stood before Thee,

To utter a prayer for their welfare,

And to turn Thy fury from them.

21 Abandon Thou therefore their children to famine,

Deliver them up to the sword;

Let their wives become childless widows,

Let their men be slain of death,

And their youths may the sword smite in battle.

22 Let a cry ring out from their houses,

When swiftly Thou bringest the raiders upon them;

For a pit they have dug to take me,

And snares they have hid for my feet.

23 For well, O Jehovah, Thou knowest

How they plotted against me to slay me.

O pardon not their guilt,

And blot not their sin from Thy sight.

Let them prostrate be hurled before Thee;

Deal Thou with them in the time of Thine anger.