Jer 20:12 | NET2full | STEP | O Lord of Heaven’s Armies , you test and prove the righteous . You see into people’s hearts and minds . Pay them back for what they have done because I trust you to vindicate my cause .

‏ Jeremiah 20:12

12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ^{▼▼tn Heb “Yahweh of Armies.”} ^{▼▼sn See the study note on 2:19 for explanation of this title for God.} you test and prove the righteous.
You see into people’s hearts and minds. ^{▼▼tn Heb “Lord of Armies, the one who tests the righteous, who sees kidneys and heart.” The sentence has been broken up to avoid a long and complex English sentence. The translation is more in keeping with contemporary English style.} ^{▼▼sn This verse is almost an exact duplication of the petition in one of Jeremiah’s earlier prayers and complaints. See Jer 11:20 and notes there for explanation of the Hebrew psychology underlying the use of “kidneys and heart” here. For the thoughts expressed here see Ps 17.}
Pay them back for what they have done
because I trust you to vindicate my cause.