Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 1. Because of the sins you committed in the sight of God, you will be led away to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 2. After you enter Babylon, you will remain there many years, even a long time, as many as seven generations. But after this, I shall lead you from that place with peace. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 3. Now in Babylon you will see gods of silver, gold, and wood carried upon shoulders as displays of fear to the Gentiles. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 4. Therefore do not reverence them, lest you become like the foreigners, and fear also seizes you because of them Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 5. when you see a multitude worshiping them, both in front of and behind them. But say in your mind, “One must worship You, O Lord.” Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 6. For My angel is with all of you, and he is searching your souls.
Idols Dressed Like People
Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 7. Indeed their tongue is polished by a craftsman, and they are plated with silver and gold. But they are false and unable to speak. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 8. As though for a virgin, they take gold and prepare crowns upon the heads of their gods. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 9. But there are times when the priests will rob the silver and gold from their gods and spend them on themselves, and also give some of them to the prostitutes in their chamber. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 10. So they adorn them—these gods of silver, gold, and wood—with clothing like humans, but they cannot preserve themselves against scum and moth. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 11. After they clothe them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust from the temple, which is thick upon them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 12. One of them holds a scepter, like the judge of a country who does not put to death the one who sins against him. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 13. Another holds a dagger in his right hand and a battleax itself, but he cannot defend himself from war and robbers. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 14. From this, it is evident they are not gods; therefore, do not fear them.
Useless, Lifeless
Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 15. For as the vessel of a man is shattered and becomes useless, such are their gods as they sit in their temples. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 16. Their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 17. As courtyards are fenced all around against someone who offends a king, and thus is awaiting the death penalty, so the priests also fortify the temples of their gods with doors, bars, and bolts, lest they be plundered by robbers. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 18. Although their gods cannot see for themselves, they burn many lamps for them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 19. Indeed, as the saying goes, the gods are like a wooden beam in their temple, for their hearts are eaten out by the creeping things of the earth, which devour both them and their clothing; Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 20. and the face of their idols is blackened by the smoke from the temple; yet all this goes unnoticed. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 21. Bats, swallows, and other birds also perch on their body and head, and even cats likewise sit there. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 22. So know from this that they are not gods; therefore, do not fear them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 23. As for the gold worn by the idols for beauty, unless someone wipes off the scum, it does not shine; neither did they notice this when they were formed. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 24. Although they are bought at a high price, there is no spirit in them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 25. Since they are without feet, they must be carried on the shoulders of others, which demonstrates the disgrace of these idols before mankind. Moreover, those who serve them are put to shame, because if the idol happens to fall to the ground, it must be lifted up by them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 26. Even if someone should stand it upright, it would not move by itself, nor if it were bent over, it would not straighten up; yet gifts are offered to it by them as to the dead. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 27. But the priests sell their sacrifices to make full use of this money for themselves. Likewise even their wives preserve the meat offered them, though neither the poor nor the lame are given a share; and even a woman in her menstruation, or one just giving birth, touches them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 28. Since you know from this that they are not gods, therefore, do not fear them.
False Priests
Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 29. How then can these be called gods? For women serve offerings to these gods of silver, gold, and wood. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 30. Even the priests sit in their temples, and their clothes are torn. Their heads and beards are also closely shaven and uncovered Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 31. as they roar and shout before their gods, as some do at a feast. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 32. The priests take the garments of their idols to clothe their wives and children. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 33. Whether these gods may suffer evil by someone or even good, they will not be able to repay either. Even more, they are not capable of raising up a king, nor do they have the power to remove one. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 34. Likewise they are unable to give wealth or money to anyone. Moreover if someone makes a vow to them but does not pay it, they will not seek payment from him. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 35. They cannot deliver a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 36. They cannot restore the sight of a blind man, nor rescue someone in distress, nor deliver anyone in trouble. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 37. They cannot show mercy to a widow, nor do good to the orphan. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 38. These wooden idols, plated with silver and gold, are likened to stones on a mountain, and those who serve them will be put to shame. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 39. How then can anyone suppose them to be gods, or call them such?
Undiscerning Chaldeans
Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 40. Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them, for when they see someone without the power of speech, they bring him to Bel. They consider it worthy to call out to him, as though he could understand. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 41. Yet they themselves do not understand so as to abandon their idols, for they have no discernment. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 42. The women also put cords around themselves and sit in the streets, burning corn as incense. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 43. When one of these women is led off by some passerby and sleeps with him, she insults her neighbor because she was not as desirable as herself, nor was her cord broken. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 44. Everything to do with these idols is a lie. How then can anyone suppose them to be gods, or call them such?
Idols Are a Disgrace
Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 45. They are fashioned by craftsmen and goldsmiths. They cannot be anything but what the craftsmen desire them to be. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 46. Even those who fashion them do not attain a long life; therefore, how can the things created by them be gods? Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 47. For they leave behind lies and a disgrace for those who come after. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 48. Indeed, when war and calamities fall upon them, the priests counsel among themselves so they may hide themselves with them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 49. How then is it not perceived that they are not gods, who can neither save themselves from war nor calamities? Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 50. For they are wood, plated with silver and gold, Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 51. and it will become known and evident in due time to the Gentiles and their kings that they are false and not gods, but rather the works of men's hands. There is nothing of God's work in them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 52. Who then can fail to know that they are not gods? Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 53. For they cannot raise up a king for a country, nor can they give mankind rain. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 54. They cannot decide a case, nor can they help one who is wronged; for they are like crows tossed about in the air. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 55. Indeed, when a fire breaks out in the temple of these wooden gods, plated with silver or gold, their priests will run and save themselves, but these beams of wood in the midst will be burned up. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 56. They offer no resistance against a king or in a war. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 57. How then can one admit or suppose that they are gods? Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 58. Neither can wooden gods save themselves from thieves or robbers, since they are plated with silver and gold. For those who are strong will take away their silver and gold and the clothing they wear. Nor can they help themselves. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 59. So it is better to be a king able to demonstrate his own courage, or a household utensil that is useful to its owner, than to be false gods. It is better to be a wooden pillar in a palace than to be false gods. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 60. For indeed the sun, moon, and stars that shine brightly are sent for a useful purpose, and they obey. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 61. Likewise, when lightning flashes it is seen far and wide, and the wind blows in every country. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 62. So too, when God commands the clouds to travel across the whole earth, they fulfill what is commanded. So does fire when it is sent from above to consume the mountains and forests, and does what is ordered. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 63. But idols cannot be compared to any of this, either in power or appearance. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 64. Therefore they are not to be considered as gods, nor as able to make judgments, nor to be good for mankind. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 65. So then, since you know they are not gods, do not fear them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 66. For they can neither curse nor bless kings. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 67. They cannot show signs in heaven to the Gentiles, so as to shine like the sun or give light like the moon. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 68. The wild animals are superior to them, for they are able to flee for shelter to profit themselves. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 69. Therefore, there is no evidence to prove that they are gods, so do not fear them. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 70. For like a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers, guarding nothing worthwhile, so are their wooden gods, plated with silver and gold. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 71. They are like a thorn bush in a garden on which every bird perches, and they are like a dead man cast into darkness. Such are their wooden gods, plated with silver and gold. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 72. Because of the purple and fine linen rotting on them, you will know that they themselves are not gods. Afterwards, they will be consumed, and become a disgrace in the land. Epistle of Jeremiah 1, verse 73. Better therefore is a man who is righteous and has no idols, for he shall be far from disgrace.