Jeremiah 18:21 — Meaning and Application

Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, {and} to turn away thy wrath from them.

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their {blood} by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and {be} widows; and let their men be put to death; {let} their young men {be} slain by the sword in battle. {pour...: Heb. pour them out}

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay {me}: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal {thus} with them in the time of thine anger. {to slay...: Heb. for death}