18 Moreover, the Lord made it known to me and I knew it; Then You showed me their deeds . 19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter ; And I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit , And let us cut him off from the land of the living , That his name be remembered no more ." 20 But, O Lord of hosts , who judges righteously , Who tries the feelings and the heart , Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You have I committed my cause . 21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth , who seek your life , saying , " Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord , so that you will not die at our hand "; 22 therefore , thus says the Lord of hosts , "Behold , I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword , their sons and daughters will die by famine ; 23 and a remnant will not be left to them, for I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth - the year of their punishment ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 11:18-23
Commentary on Jeremiah 11:18-23
(Read Jeremiah 11:18-23)
The prophet Jeremiah tells much concerning himself, the times he lived in being very troublesome. Those of his own city plotted how they might cause his death. They thought to end his days, but he outlived most of his enemies; they thought to blast his memory, but it lives to this day, and will be blessed while time lasts. God knows all the secret designs of his and his people's enemies, and can, when he pleases, make them known. God's justice is a terror to the wicked, but a comfort to the godly. When we are wronged, we have a God to commit our cause to, and it is our duty to commit it to him. We should also look well to our own spirits, that we are not overcome with evil, but that by patient continuance in praying for our enemies, and in kindness to them, we may overcome evil with good.