Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 18:20

20 Shall evil be recompensed for good ? For they have digged a pit for my soul : Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them , and to turn away thy wrath from them .

To requite good for evil is divine; God maketh his Sun to shine, and his Rain to fall upon the just and unjust. To requite evil for evil, or good for good, is but humane, what the Nature of reasonable men prompt them to: But to requite evil for good is diabolical, and the character of those that are the children of the evil one.

Lord saith the Prophet, these men have done thus, they have laid snares for my life.

Though thou knowest, that as a Prophet I stood before thee, both preaching and praying for their good.

Their wrath is kindled to a great height against me, and thou knowest my business was both in my preachings to them, and prayers for them, to turn away thy wrath from them. Lord remember this both for good to me, and for vengeance upon them.