Jer 18:20 | NET2full | STEP | Should good be paid back with evil ? Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me . Just remember how I stood before you pleading on their behalf to keep you from venting your anger on them .

‏ Jeremiah 18:20

20 Should good be paid back with evil?
Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. ^{▼▼tn Or “They are plotting to kill me”; Heb “They have dug a pit for my soul.” This is a common metaphor for plotting against someone. See BDB 500 s.v. כָּרָה Qal and for an example see Pss 7:16 (7:15 HT) in its context.}
Just remember how I stood before you
pleading on their behalf ^{▼▼tn Heb “to speak good concerning them,” which goes back to the concept of “good” being paid back with evil.}
to keep you from venting your anger on them. ^{▼▼tn Heb “to turn back your anger from them.”} ^{▼▼sn See Jer 14:7-9, 19-21 and 15:1-4 for the idea.}