Jeremiah 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 

Ge 18:22-32; 1Sa 24:17-19; Job 6:27; Ps 7:15; Ps 35:7; Ps 35:12; Ps 38:20; Ps 57:6; Ps 106:23; Ps 109:4,5; Ps 119:95; Pr 17:13; Pr 26:27; Ec 10:8; Jer 7:16; Jer 11:14; Jer 14:7-11,20-22; Jer 15:1; Jer 18:22; Eze 22:30,31; Zec 3:1,2; Joh 10:32; Joh 15:25

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.

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

³ tn Heb “to turn back your anger from them.”

sn See Jer 14:7-9, 19-21 and 15:1-4 for the idea.