Jeremiah 20:12

20:12 O Lord who rules over all, 1  you test and prove the righteous.

You see into people’s hearts and minds. 2 

Pay them back for what they have done

because I trust you to vindicate my cause.

1 tn Heb “Yahweh of armies.”

sn See the study note on 2:19 for explanation of this title for God.

2 tn Heb “Lord of armies, the one who tests the righteous, who sees kidneys and heart.” The sentence has been broken up to avoid a long and complex English sentence. The translation is more in keeping with contemporary English style.

sn This verse is almost an exact duplication of the petition in one of Jeremiah’s earlier prayers and complaints. See Jer 11:20 and notes there for explanation of the Hebrew psychology underlying the use of “kidneys and heart” here. For the thoughts expressed here see Ps 17.