Jeremiah 20:7–13

Every witness, in order

1. late 7th–6th century BC (by section; debated)

   The words as first spoken or written

   – No copy survives

   No original survives, and Jeremiah circulated in at least two ancient Hebrew editions: a shorter one behind the Old Greek and the longer one preserved as the Masoretic Text. The oldest copies are six fragmentary Qumran manuscripts (2QJer, 4QJer-a to 4QJer-e), from about 200 BC to the 1st century AD.

2. late 1st century BC (reported)

   4QJer-c (4Q72), Qumran Cave 4

   ◐ Contains part of itDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XV not yet checked.

   Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 20:7–13. A fragmentary copy: only parts of these verses survive, and in the transcription much of the passage is restored by the editors. Preserves parts of vv. 7–9, including "you enticed me, LORD, and I was enticed" (v. 7) and "violence and destruction" (v. 8), in agreement with the Masoretic Text where letters survive.

3. Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592

   Latin Vulgate (Clementine)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Hebrew text Jerome used

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).

   Seduxisti me, Domine, et seductus sum: fortior me fuisti, et invaluisti: factus sum in derisum tota die; omnes subsannant me. Quia jam olim loquor, vociferans iniquitatem, et vastitatem clamito: et factus est mihi sermo Domini in opprobrium, et in derisum tota die. Et dixi: Non recordabor ejus, neque loquar ultra in nomine illius: et factus est in corde meo quasi ignis exæstuans, claususque in ossibus meis, et defeci, ferre non sustinens. Audivi enim contumelias multorum, et terrorem in circuitu: Persequimini, et persequamur eum, ab omnibus viris qui erant pacifici mei, et custodientes latus meum: si quomodo decipiatur, et prævaleamus adversus eum, et consequamur ultionem ex eo. Dominus autem mecum est, quasi bellator fortis: idcirco qui persequuntur me cadent, et infirmi erunt: confundentur vehementer, quia non intellexerunt opprobrium sempiternum, quod numquam delebitur. Et tu, Domine exercituum, probator justi, qui vides renes et cor, videam, quæso, ultionem tuam ex eis: tibi enim revelavi causam meam. Cantate Domino, laudate Dominum, quia liberavit animam pauperis de manu malorum.

   Latin numbering: Jeremiah 20:7–13. Jerome translated Jeremiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).

4. AD 1008

   Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

   ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from The words as first spoken or written

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

   פִּתִּיתַ֤נִי יְהוָה֙ וֽ͏ָאֶפָּ֔ת חֲזַקְתַּ֖נִי וַתּוּכָ֑ל הָיִ֤יתִי לִשְׂחוֹק֙ כָּל־הַיּ֔וֹם כֻּלֹּ֖ה לֹעֵ֥ג לִֽי׃ כִּֽי־מִדֵּ֤י אֲדַבֵּר֙ אֶזְעָ֔ק חָמָ֥ס וָשֹׁ֖ד אֶקְרָ֑א כִּֽי־הָיָ֨ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֥ה לִ֛י לְחֶרְפָּ֥ה וּלְקֶ֖לֶס כָּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃ וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י לֹֽא־אֶזְכְּרֶ֗נּוּ וְלֹֽא־אֲדַבֵּ֥ר עוֹד֙ בִּשְׁמ֔וֹ וְהָיָ֤ה בְלִבִּי֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ בֹּעֶ֔רֶת עָצֻ֖ר בְּעַצְמֹתָ֑י וְנִלְאֵ֥יתִי כַּֽלְכֵ֖ל וְלֹ֥א אוּכָֽל׃ כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֜עְתִּי דִּבַּ֣ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֣וֹר מִסָּבִיב֒ הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ וְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּ כֹּ֚ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֔י שֹׁמְרֵ֖י צַלְעִ֑י אוּלַ֤י יְפֻתֶּה֙ וְנ֣וּכְלָה ל֔וֹ וְנִקְחָ֥ה נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ וַֽיהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ כְּגִבּ֣וֹר עָרִ֔יץ עַל־כֵּ֛ן רֹדְפַ֥י יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יֻכָ֑לוּ בֹּ֤שׁוּ מְאֹד֙ כִּֽי־לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ כְּלִמַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃ וַיהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בֹּחֵ֣ן צַדִּ֔יק רֹאֶ֥ה כְלָי֖וֹת וָלֵ֑ב אֶרְאֶ֤ה נִקְמָֽתְךָ֙ מֵהֶ֔ם כִּ֥י אֵלֶ֖יךָ גִּלִּ֥יתִי אֶת־רִיבִֽי׃ שִׁ֚ירוּ לַֽיהוָ֔ה הַֽלְל֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֥י הִצִּ֛יל אֶת־נֶ֥פֶשׁ אֶבְי֖וֹן מִיַּ֥ד מְרֵעִֽים׃

   You enticed me, LORD, and I was enticed; you overpowered me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day; everyone mocks me (v. 7)

   Hebrew numbering: Jeremiah 20:7–13.

5. 1611

   King James Bible

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

   How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

   O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause. Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

6. Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872

   Greek Jeremiah (library: Giguet's French)

   ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from the Old Greek Jeremiah (a shorter edition)

   How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

   Vous m’avez trompé, Seigneur, et j’ai été séduit. Vous avez prévalu, car vous avez la force; je suis devenu pour eux un sujet de dérision, et chaque jour ils ne cessent de me railler. Je rirai moi-même avec amertume de mon impuissance; j’appellerai sur moi la misère, parce que la parole du Seigneur m’est devenue un opprobre, et que je suis insulté tout le jour. Et j’ai dit: Je ne prononcerai plus le nom du Seigneur, et je ne parlerai plus en son nom. Et j’ai dans mes os comme un feu ardent; tout mon corps est défaillant; je ne puis plus supporter De m’entendre outrager par tous ceux qui s’attroupent autour de moi. Conspirez, disent-ils, conspirons tous contre cet homme, nous qui étions ses amis; surveillez ses intentions, s’il peut être séduit, sur lui nous prévaudrons, et de lui nous tirerons vengeance. Mais le Seigneur est avec moi, comme un puissant homme de guerre. Aussi m’ont-ils persécuté, mais ils n’ont pu rien découvrir contre moi; et ils ont été grandement confondus, parce qu’ils n’avaient point prévu leur propre honte, qui ne sera plus jamais oubliée. Seigneur, qui jugez les choses justes, qui sondez les reins et les cœurs, puissé-je voir la vengeance que vous tirerez d’eux; car je vous ai expliqué ma cause. Chantez le Seigneur; louez-le parce qu’il a dérobé l’âme du pauvre aux mains des méchants.

   Greek (digital file) numbering: Jeremiah 20:7–13. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only), in the Greek book's own order and verse numbering; a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Jeremiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart.