Attend to me, O LORD. Hear what my accusers are saying!
Parallel translations
- WEB Give heed to me, Yahweh, and listen to the voice of those who contend with me.
- KJV Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.
- NKJV Give heed to me, O Lord, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me!
- NASB ¶Give Your attention to me, Lord, And listen to what my opponents are saying!
- NLT Lord, hear me and help me! Listen to what my enemies are saying.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jeremiah turns to God in prayer, asking him to attend to his cause against his accusers. He brings his grievance to the Lord rather than retaliating.
Overview
Surrounded by conspirators, the prophet appeals to God to heed both his plea and the threats of his adversaries. Rather than defending himself by his own hand, he commits his case to the righteous Judge. This pattern of entrusting oneself to God amid persecution is fulfilled supremely in Christ, who committed himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Neh 6:9For they were all trying to frighten us, saying, “Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will never be finished.” But now, my God, strengthen my hands.
- Jer 20:12O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous, who sees the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.
- Ps 55:16–17But I call to God, and the LORD saves me.
- Mic 7:8Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
- Ps 109:28Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.
- Ps 64:1–4For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear, O God, my voice of complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
- Neh 4:4–5Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity.
- 2 Kgs 19:16Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see. Listen to the words that Sennacherib has sent to defy the living God.
- Ps 109:4In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
- Luke 6:11–12But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
- Ps 56:1–3For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 18:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.