O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
O Lord, thou hast deceived me. Jeremiah's complaint, not unlike that of Job, breathing somewhat of human infirmity, in consequence of his imprisonment. Thou didst promise never to give me up to the will of mine enemies, and yet thou hast done so. But Jeremiah misunderstood God's promise, which was not that he should have nothing to suffer, but that God would deliver him out of sufferings (Jeremiah 1:19). Deceived - others translate, as margin, 'thou hast enticed,' or 'persuaded me'-namely, allured me to undertake the prophetic office, 'and I was persuaded' - i:e., suffered myself to be persuaded to undertake what I find too hard for me. So the Hebrew word х paataah (H6601)] is used in a good sense (Genesis 9:27, margin, 'God shall persuade Japheth' (the proper name is a kindred word to the Hebrew verb, to persuade); Proverbs 25:15; Hosea 2:14).
Thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed - thou whose strength I could not resist hast laid this burden on me, and hast prevailed-hast made me prophesy, in spite of my reluctance - (Jeremiah 1:5-7); yet, when I exercise my office, I am treated with derision (Lamentations 3:14).