Jeremiah:20:7-18
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O LORD ,
Thou hast enticed me ,
and I was enticed ,
Thou hast overcome me ,
and hast prevailed ;
I am become a laughing-stock all the day ,
every one mocketh me .
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For as often as I speak ,
I cry out ,
I cry : '
Violence and spoil ';
because the word of the LORD is made a reproach unto me ,
and a derision ,
all the day .
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And if I say : '
I will not make mention of Him ,
nor speak any more in His name ',
then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones ,
and I weary myself to hold it in ,
but cannot .
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For I have heard the whispering of many ,
terror on every side : '
Denounce ,
and we will denounce him ';
even of all my familiar friends ,
them that watch for my halting : '
Peradventure he will be enticed ,
and we shall prevail against him ,
and we shall take our revenge on him .'
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But the LORD is with me as a mighty warrior ;
therefore my persecutors shall stumble ,
and they shall not prevail ;
they shall be greatly ashamed ,
because they have not prospered ,
even with an everlasting confusion which shall never be forgotten .
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But ,
O LORD of hosts ,
that triest the righteous ,
that seest the reins and the heart ,
let me see Thy vengeance on them ;
for unto Thee have I revealed my cause .
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Sing unto the LORD ,
praise ye the LORD ;
for He hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil-doers .
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Cursed be the day wherein I was born ;
the day wherein my mother bore me ,
let it not be blessed .
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Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father ,
saying : '
A man-child is born unto thee ';
making him very glad .
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And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew ,
and repented not ;
and let him hear a cry in the morning ,
and an alarm at noontide ;
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Because He slew me not from the womb ;
and so my mother would have been my grave ,
and her womb always great .
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Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow ,
that my days should be consumed in shame ?