Jeremiah 18:20

18:20 Should good be paid back with evil?

Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. ¹ 

Just remember how I stood before you

pleading on their behalf ² 

to keep you from venting your anger on them. ³ 

Jeremiah 18:22

18:22 Let cries of terror be heard in their houses

when you send bands of raiders unexpectedly to plunder them. ⁴ 

For they have virtually dug a pit to capture me

and have hidden traps for me to step into.

[18:20]  ¹ tn Or “They are plotting to kill me”; Heb “They have dug a pit for my soul.” This is a common metaphor for plotting against someone. See BDB 500 s.v. כָּרָה Qal and for an example see Pss 7:16 (7:15 HT) in its context.

[18:20]  ² tn Heb “to speak good concerning them” going back to the concept of “good” being paid back with evil.

[18:20]  ³ tn Heb “to turn back your anger from them.”

[18:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “when you bring marauders in against them.” For the use of the noun translated here “bands of raiders to plunder them” see 1 Sam 30:3, 15, 23 and BDB 151 s.v. גְּדוּד 1.