Epistle of Jeremiah 1 — GMV

1 Verse 1 A copy of an epistle, which Jeremiah sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God. ^{Verse 2} Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians. ^{Verse 3} So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence. ^{Verse 4} Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. ^{Verse 5} Beware therefore that ye in nowise be like to strangers, neither be ye afraid of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshiping them. ^{Verse 6} But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee. ^{Verse 7} For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls. ^{Verse 8} As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with gold; yet are they but false, and cannot speak. ^{Verse 9} And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods. ^{Verse 10} Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves. ^{Verse 11} Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, being gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood. ^{Verse 12} Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moths, though they be covered with purple raiment. ^{Verse 13} They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them. ^{Verse 14} And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a scepter, as though he were a judge of the country. ^{Verse 15} He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an axe: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves. ^{Verse 16} Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not. ^{Verse 17} For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in. ^{Verse 18} And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death; even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers. ^{Verse 19} They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one. ^{Verse 20} They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not. ^{Verse 21} Their faces are blackened through the smoke that cometh out of the temple. ^{Verse 22} Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also. ^{Verse 23} By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not. ^{Verse 24} Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it. ^{Verse 25} The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price. ^{Verse 26} They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet, whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth. ^{Verse 27} They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them, as unto dead men. ^{Verse 28} As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it. ^{Verse 29} Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not. ^{Verse 30} For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood. ^{Verse 31} And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads. ^{Verse 32} They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead. ^{Verse 33} The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children. ^{Verse 34} Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down. ^{Verse 35} In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it. ^{Verse 36} They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty. ^{Verse 37} They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress. ^{Verse 38} They can show no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless. ^{Verse 39} Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded. ^{Verse 40} How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them? ^{Verse 41} Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and entreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand. ^{Verse 42} Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge. ^{Verse 43} The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken. ^{Verse 44} Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods? ^{Verse 45} They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be. ^{Verse 46} And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods ^{Verse 47} For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after. ^{Verse 48} For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them. ^{Verse 49} How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague? ^{Verse 50} For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false: ^{Verse 51} and it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them. ^{Verse 52} Who then may not know that they are no gods? ^{Verse 53} For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men. ^{Verse 54} Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth. ^{Verse 55} Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape: but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams. ^{Verse 56} Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods? ^{Verse 57} Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers. ^{Verse 58} Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong do take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves. ^{Verse 59} Therefore it is better to be a king that showeth his power, or else a profitable vessel in a house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in a house, to keep such things safe as be therein, than such false gods; or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods. ^{Verse 60} For sun, moon, and stars, being bright, and sent to do their offices, are obedient. ^{Verse 61} In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country. ^{Verse 62} And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden. ^{Verse 63} And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in show nor power. ^{Verse 64} Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men. ^{Verse 65} Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not. ^{Verse 66} For they can neither curse nor bless kings: ^{Verse 67} neither can they show signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon. ^{Verse 68} The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a covert, and help themselves. ^{Verse 69} It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not. ^{Verse 70} For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold. ^{Verse 71} And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is cast into the dark. ^{Verse 72} And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country. ^{Verse 73} Better therefore is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach.