One of the things I like doing when I study the Bible, besides looking at the original text, is to look at different versions of the verse or verses that I am studying. Here in Jeremiah 20:11-12, let’s look at a few versions to get a larger picture.
But the Lord is with me like a dread champion;
Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will be utterly ashamed, because they have failed,
With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten.
Yet, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous,
Who see the mind and the heart;
Let me see Your vengeance on them;
For to You I have set forth my cause. NSAB
But God, a most fierce warrior, is at my side.
Those who are after me will be sent sprawling—
Slapstick buffoons falling all over themselves,
a spectacle of humiliation no one will ever forget.Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, no one fools you.
You see through everyone, everything.
I want to see you pay them back for what they’ve done.
I rest my case with you. MSG
But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior.
Before him my persecutors will stumble.
They cannot defeat me.
They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated.
Their dishonor will never be forgotten.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
you test those who are righteous,
and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.
Let me see your vengeance against them,
for I have committed my cause to you. NLT
But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One.
Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail.
They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.
Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.
But, O Lord of hosts,
You who test the righteous,
And see the mind and heart,
Let me see Your vengeance on them;
For I have pleaded my cause before You. NKJV
This passage has become one of my favorites to focus on not only in the times of trouble but also in understanding who God is.
He is Lord, God, a dread champion, most fierce warrior, a great warrior, a mighty, awesome One. Lord of hosts, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, and Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
He is, with me, at my side, and stands beside me.
He can, see the mind and the heart, see through everyone, everything, and examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.
Those who are against me will, stumble and not prevail, be utterly ashamed because they have failed, With an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten, sent sprawling—
Slapstick buffoons falling all over themselves, a spectacle of humiliation no one will ever forget, stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten, stumble, and will not prevail.
They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.
I can, set forth my cause, rest my case with you, committed my cause to you, pleaded my cause before You.
Look at this as a football game and you are the quarterback. Like Michael Oher, God is right there next to you preventing, blocking, protecting you from being pounded into the ground. Also like a quarterback, you tell Him what is going on and He will set out to protect you. Sometimes He has them out protecting you even if you didn’t call on Him. As the enemy and his minions fall and fail in trying to stop you from achieving the touchdown, you will see His vengeance on them as they fall by the wayside allowing the touchdown.
(Photo by Nathan Shively on Unsplash)
Bonnie Sue Writes 