Jer 18:20 | NETfull | 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. ^{▼▼ 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 ^{▼▼ Heb “to speak good concerning them” going back to the concept of “good” being paid back with evil.}
to keep you from venting your anger on them. ^{▼▼ Heb “to turn back your anger from them.”} ^{▼▼ See Jer 14:7–9, 19–21 and 15:1–4 for the idea.}