Jeremiah’s opponents plot against him

18 Then some of the people said, “Come, let us make plans to get rid of Jeremiah. After all, priests will always teach us God’s laws, wise people will always give us good advice, and prophets will always tell us God’s messages. We do not need Jeremiah! So let’s slander him and not pay attention to anything he says.”

19 Then I prayed, “Yahweh, please pay attention to me! Listen to what my opponents are saying about me.

20 They should not be doing harmful things to me when I have done good things for them. But they are trying to kill me. Remember that I once stood in your presence and pleaded with you to do good things for them, and I tried to persuade you not to punish them even though you were very angry with them.

21 So, let their children starve! Let their enemies kill them in battle! Let their wives lose their children and their husbands! Let their older men die from a plague, and let the young men die in battle!

22 Cause people to scream in terror in their homes when you suddenly send a raiding enemy army against them! Let all of this happen to them because they want to kill me. It is as though they have dug a pit for me to fall into and have set hidden snares on my path.

23 But Yahweh, you yourself know everything they have planned to do to try to kill me. Do not forgive the wrong things they have done but instead let them fall down in defeat before you. Deal with them when you are angry!”