14 Cursed be the day when I was born ; Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me! 15 Cursed be the man who brought the news To my father , saying , "A baby boy has been born to you!" And made him very happy . 16 But let that man be like the cities Which the Lord overthrew without relenting , And let him hear an outcry in the morning And a shout of alarm at noon ; 17 Because he did not kill me before birth , So that my mother would have been my grave , And her womb ever pregnant . 18 Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow , So that my days have been spent in shame ?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 20:14-18
Commentary on Jeremiah 20:14-18
(Read Jeremiah 20:14-18)
When grace has the victory, it is good to be ashamed of our folly, to admire the goodness of God, and be warned to guard our spirits another time. See how strong the temptation was, over which the prophet got the victory by Divine assistance! He is angry that his first breath was not his last. While we remember that these wishes are not recorded for us to utter the like, we may learn good lessons from them. See how much those who think they stand, ought to take heed lest they fall, and to pray daily, Lead us not into temptation. How frail, changeable, and sinful is man! How foolish and unnatural are the thoughts and wishes of our hearts, when we yield to discontent! Let us consider Him who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we should be at any time weary and faint in our minds under our lesser trials.