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Sometimes I say to myself,
    “I will forget about the Lord.
    I will not speak anymore in his name.”
But then the Lord’s message becomes like a burning fire inside me.
    It feels like it burns deep within my bones.
I get tired of trying to hold the Lord’s message inside of me.
    And finally, I cannot hold it in.
10 I hear many people whispering about me:
    “Terror on every side!
    Let’s tell the rulers about him.”
My friends are all just waiting for me to make some mistake.
    They are saying,
“Maybe we can trick Jeremiah.
    Then we can defeat him.
    Then we can pay him back.”

11 But the Lord is with me like a strong warrior.
    So those who are chasing me will trip and fall.
    They will not defeat me.
They will be very disappointed and ashamed.
    Their shame will never be forgotten.

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But if I say, “I will not mention his word
    or speak anymore in his name,”(A)
his word is in my heart like a fire,(B)
    a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;(C)
    indeed, I cannot.
10 I hear many whispering,
    “Terror(D) on every side!
    Denounce(E) him! Let’s denounce him!”
All my friends(F)
    are waiting for me to slip,(G) saying,
“Perhaps he will be deceived;
    then we will prevail(H) over him
    and take our revenge(I) on him.”

11 But the Lord(J) is with me like a mighty warrior;
    so my persecutors(K) will stumble and not prevail.(L)
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;(M)
    their dishonor will never be forgotten.

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