Then I said,“ What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go. I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose nor a borrower who refuses to pay— yet they all curse me.”

我的母亲哪，我有祸了！因你生我作为遍地相争相竞的人。我素来没有借贷与人，人也没有借贷与我，人人却都咒骂我。

我的母亲哪，我有祸了！因你生我作全地争相指控的人。我素来没有借贷给人，人也没有借贷给我，人人却都咒骂我。

我的母亲哪，我有祸了！因你生我作全地争相指控的人。我素来没有借贷给人，人也没有借贷给我，人人却都咒骂我。

母亲啊，我真不幸，因为你生了我这个跟全犹大争论、激辩的人。我没有向人借贷，也没有借贷给人，然而人人都咒骂我。

我母亲哪！我有祸了，因为你生了我，这个跟全地相争相斗的人。我从没有借钱给人，也没有向人借钱，可是人人都咒骂我。

我的母親哪，我有禍了！因你生我作為遍地相爭相競的人。我素來沒有借貸與人，人也沒有借貸與我，人人卻都咒罵我。

我的母親哪，我有禍了！因你生我作全地爭相指控的人。我素來沒有借貸給人，人也沒有借貸給我，人人卻都咒罵我。

我的母親哪，我有禍了！因你生我作全地爭相指控的人。我素來沒有借貸給人，人也沒有借貸給我，人人卻都咒罵我。

母親啊，我真不幸，因為你生了我這個跟全猶大爭論、激辯的人。我沒有向人借貸，也沒有借貸給人，然而人人都咒罵我。

我母親哪！我有禍了，因為你生了我，這個跟全地相爭相鬥的人。我從沒有借錢給人，也沒有向人借錢，可是人人都咒罵我。

我母親哪，我有禍了，你生了我做對遍地吵鬧紛爭的人！我素來沒有拿錢借給人來取利息，人也沒有拿錢借給我來取利，然而人人都咒罵我。

我母歟、禍哉我也、爾之生我、為全地喜爭好競之人、我未貸金於人、人亦未貸金於我、然彼皆詛我、

耶利米曰、哀哉我母、何為產我、為通國之人所攻、我未貸眾以金、眾未貸我以金、藉權子母、而人莫不詛予。

先知自言曰、哀哉、我母何為生我、通國之人攻我、而與我爭、我未貸金於人、人亦未貸金於我、而人莫不詛我、

Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.

My mother, I wish I had never been born! The whole land opposes me. They fight against me. I haven’t made loans to anyone. And I haven’t borrowed anything. But everyone curses me anyway.

Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.

Woe is me, my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man who incites dispute and conflict in all the land. I did not lend or borrow, yet everyone curses me.

Woe to me, my mother, that you have given birth to me As a man of strife and a man of contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have people lent money to me, Yet everyone curses me.

Woe is me, my mother, That you have borne me, A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent for interest, Nor have men lent to me for interest. Every one of them curses me.

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Woe is me, my mother, that you gave birth to me, a man who incites dispute and conflict in all the land. I did not lend or borrow, yet everyone curses me.

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury;[ yet] every one of them doth curse me.

I said,“ Oh, mother, how I regret that you ever gave birth to me! I am always starting arguments and quarrels with the people of this land. I have not lent money to anyone and I have not borrowed from anyone. Yet all of these people are treating me with contempt.”

Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife, and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet every one of them curses me.

“ If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would.

O Lord, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me.When I speak, the words burst out.“ Violence and destruction!” I shout. So these messages from the Lord have made me a household joke.

For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.

They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken!

At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth.He said:“ Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived.Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it.Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it.Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.Let that night be childless. Let it have no joy.Let those who are experts at cursing— whose cursing could rouse Leviathan— curse that day.Let its morning stars remain dark. Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light.Curse that day for failing to shut my mother’s womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble.“ Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb?Why was I laid on my mother’s lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts?Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest.I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers, whose great buildings now lie in ruins.I would rest with princes, rich in gold, whose palaces were filled with silver.Why wasn’t I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light?For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest.Even captives are at ease in death, with no guards to curse them.Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master.“ Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter?They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.They’re filled with joy when they finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave.Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water.What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.”

“ Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious!

“ The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!” they shouted to the city officials.“ They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice.”A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat,“ There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied,“ That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”

“ So, my enemy, you have found me!” Ahab exclaimed to Elijah.“ Yes,” Elijah answered,“ I have come because you have sold yourself to what is evil in the Lord’s sight.

When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed,“ So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”“ I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied.“ You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.

Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world— to people and angels alike.Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash— right up to the present moment.

“ Do not charge interest on the loans you make to a fellow Israelite, whether you loan money, or food, or anything else.You may charge interest to foreigners, but you may not charge interest to Israelites, so that the Lord your God may bless you in everything you do in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother,“ This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.

What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man.

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

Yet I curse the day I was born! May no one celebrate the day of my birth.I curse the messenger who told my father,“ Good news— you have a son!”Let him be destroyed like the cities of old that the Lord overthrew without mercy. Terrify him all day long with battle shouts,because he did not kill me at birth. Oh, that I had died in my mother’s womb, that her body had been my grave!Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.

He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them as follows:“ Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis— this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world— will be robbed of her great prestige!”At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting,“ Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard hearted and stubborn.But look, I have made you as obstinate and hard hearted as they are.I have made your forehead as hard as the hardest rock! So don’t be afraid of them or fear their angry looks, even though they are rebels.”

“ Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.

How I suffer in far off Meshech. It pains me to live in distant Kedar.I am tired of living among people who hate peace.

Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

“ A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.

Do not charge interest or make a profit at his expense. Instead, show your fear of God by letting him live with you as your relative.

Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council.“ Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted,“ and now they are here disturbing our city, too.And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”The people of the city, as well as the city council, were thrown into turmoil by these reports.

Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me! When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews.They were saying,“ We have such large families. We need more food to survive.”Others said,“ We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.”And others said,“ We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes.We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.”When I heard their complaints, I was very angry.