John Calvin Commentary Jeremiah 4:18

"Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reacheth unto thy heart." — Jeremiah 4:18 (ASV)

As I have just said, the Prophet confirms what he had declared—that the Jews would not have to suffer what is commonly called an adverse fortune, but would be summoned by God to judgment, so that, being touched with the fear of God, they might repent. Or at least, though destroyed in the flesh, they might still, being humbled, obtain pardon and be saved in the Spirit.

He therefore says that their deeds had done this for them. It is as though he had said, “There is no reason for you to blame God, or your adverse fortune, as you are accustomed to do, and as all the pagans also do. For your own deeds have brought these calamities upon you. Thus God will perform His office as a judge, and whatever may happen to you is to be ascribed to your own wickedness.”

To the same purpose is what he adds, This is your wickedness. In short, the Prophet shows that the Jews vainly attributed their calamities to this or that cause, for the whole blame was in themselves; they brought about their own ruin by their impiety and evil deeds.

In the second clause of the verse, כי מר כי נגע, ki mer, ki nego, and so on, the Prophet intimates that however bitter what they were to endure might be to them, and however it might penetrate into the inmost heart, it was still to be ascribed to themselves.

For hypocrites are accustomed in their lamentations to cast the blame on God, or at least to complain of fortune. The Prophet anticipates these evasions by showing that however bitter what the Jews had to endure might be, and even if God should pierce them through and penetrate their very innermost being and hearts, still they themselves were the authors of all their calamities. He then adds—