Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
Oh no! My mother, why did you give birth to me as someone who brings conflict and arguments to the whole world! I haven't lent money at high interest rates, and no one has lent money to me at high rates either; yet everyone still curses me.
The writer is expressing deep anguish about being hated by everyone despite living honestly and not taking advantage of people financially.
📚 Historical Context
This is Jeremiah's personal lament during his prophetic ministry in Judah before the Babylonian exile (around 627-586 BC). As God's messenger, Jeremiah constantly delivered unpopular warnings about coming judgment, making him deeply hated by his own people. The reference to lending and usury reflects that dishonest financial practices were common sins of his time, but Jeremiah maintained his integrity even while facing universal rejection.
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