Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Why was I even born to see trouble and sadness, so that my whole life would be filled with shame?
Jeremiah is expressing deep despair, questioning why he was born if his life would be filled with suffering and disgrace.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah was a prophet in ancient Judah during the 7th-6th century BC, called by God to warn the people of their sins and the coming Babylonian invasion, but he faced severe persecution for his messages. In Jeremiah 20, he is expressing deep personal anguish after being beaten and publicly humiliated by a priest named Pashhur, questioning the purpose of his birth amid ongoing suffering and shame. This lament reflects the broader historical context of Judah's spiritual and political decline, as the nation ignored God's warnings and headed toward exile.
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