Jeremiah 17:16 (DBY)

Passage

But as for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd in following thee, neither have I desired the fatal day, thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was before thy face.

Nearby Context

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, Jehovah, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Jeremiah 17:15 Behold, these say unto me, Where is the word of Jehovah? let it then come!

Jeremiah 17:16 But as for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd in following thee, neither have I desired the fatal day, thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was before thy face.

Jeremiah 17:17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my refuge in the day of evil.

Jeremiah 17:18 Let them be ashamed that persecute me, but let not me be ashamed; let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed; bring upon them the day of evil, and break them with a double breaking.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hastened", "shepherd", "following", "thee", "neither", "desired", "fatal", and "thou". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hastened" and "shepherd", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 15's "Behold these say unto me Where is..." into verse 17's "Be not a terror unto me thou...", so "hastened" and "shepherd" belong inside that flow. In Jeremiah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hastened" and "shepherd" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.