Jer 20:12 | NETfull | STEP | O Lord who rules over all, 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 who rules over all, ^{▼▼ Heb “Yahweh of armies.”} ^{▼▼ 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. ^{▼▼ 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.} ^{▼▼ 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.