17
1 “The
sin of Judah
is written with
a pen of
iron,
and with the
point of a
diamond.
It is engraved
on the tablet
of their heart,
and on the
horns of your
altars.
2 Even
their children
remember their
altars
and their Asherah poles
by the green
trees on the
high hills.
3 My
mountain in the
field,
I will give
your substance and
all your treasures
for a plunder,
and your high
places, because of
sin, throughout
all your borders.
4 You,
even of yourself,
will discontinue
from your heritage
that I gave
you.
I will cause
you to serve
your enemies in
the land which
you don’t know,
for you have
kindled a fire in
my anger which
will burn forever.”
5 The
LORD says:
“Cursed is the
man who trusts in
man,
relies on strength
of flesh,
and whose
heart departs from
the LORD.
6 For
he will be
like a bush
in the desert,
and will not
see when good
comes,
but will inhabit
the parched places
in the wilderness,
an uninhabited
salt land.
7 “Blessed
is the man
who trusts in
the LORD,
and whose
confidence is in
the LORD.
8 For
he will be
as a tree
planted by the
waters,
who spreads out
its roots by
the river,
and will not
fear when heat
comes,
but its leaf
will be green,
and will not
be concerned in
the year of
drought.
It won’t cease
from yielding
fruit.
9 The
heart is deceitful
above all things
and it
is exceedingly corrupt.
Who can know
it?
10 “I,
the LORD, search
the mind.
I try the
heart,
even to give
every man according
to his ways,
according to the
fruit of his
doings.”
11 As
the partridge
that sits on eggs
which she has
not laid,
so is he
who gets riches,
and not by
right.
In the middle
of his days,
they will leave
him.
At his end, he
will be a
fool.
12 A
glorious throne,
set on high
from the beginning,
is the place
of our sanctuary.
13 LORD,
the hope of
Israel,
all who forsake
you will
be disappointed.
Those who depart
from me will
be written in
the earth,
because they have
forsaken the LORD,
the spring of
living waters.
14 Heal
me, O LORD,
and I will
be healed.
Save me, and
I will be
saved;
for you are
my praise.
15 Behold,
they ask me,
“Where is the
LORD’s word?
Let it
be fulfilled now.”
16 As
for me, I
have not hurried
from being a
shepherd after you.
I haven’t desired the woeful
day. You know.
That which came
out of my
lips was before
your face.
17 Don’t be
a terror to
me.
You are my
refuge in the
day of evil.
18 Let them
be disappointed who
persecute me,
but don’t let me
be disappointed.
Let them be
dismayed,
but don’t let me
be dismayed.
Bring on them
the day of
evil,
and destroy them
with double
destruction.
19 The
LORD said this
to me: “Go
and stand in
the gate of
the children of
the people,
through which the
kings of Judah
come in and
by which they
go out, and
in all the
gates of Jerusalem.
20 Tell
them, ‘Hear the
LORD’s word, you
kings of Judah,
all Judah, and
all the
inhabitants of
Jerusalem, that enter
in by these
gates:
21 The
LORD says, “Be
careful, and bear
no burden on
the Sabbath day,
nor bring it
in by the
gates of Jerusalem.
22 Don’t carry
a burden out
of your houses
on the Sabbath
day. Don’t do any
work, but make
the Sabbath day
holy, as I
commanded your fathers.
23 But
they didn’t listen.
They didn’t turn
their ear, but
made their neck
stiff, that
they might not
hear, and might
not receive
instruction.
24 It
will happen, if
you diligently
listen to me,”
says the LORD, “to
bring in no
burden through the
gates of this
city on the
Sabbath day, but
to make the
Sabbath day holy,
to do no
work therein;
25 then
there will enter
in by the
gates of this
city kings and
princes sitting on
David’s throne,
riding in chariots
and on horses,
they and their
princes, the men
of Judah and
the inhabitants of
Jerusalem; and
this city will
remain forever.
26 They
will come from
the cities of
Judah, and from
the places around
Jerusalem, from
the land of
Benjamin, from the
lowland, from the
hill country, and
from the South,
bringing burnt offerings,
sacrifices, meal
offerings, and
frankincense, and bringing
sacrifices of
thanksgiving to
the LORD’s house.
27 But if
you will not
listen to me
to make the
Sabbath day holy,
and not to
bear a burden
and enter in at
the gates of
Jerusalem on the
Sabbath day, then
I will kindle
a fire in
its gates, and
it will devour
the palaces of
Jerusalem. It will
not be
quenched.” ’ ”