The Sin and Punishment of Judah
1 “The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen
and with the point of a diamond.
It is engraved on the tablet of their hearts
and on the horns of their altars.
2 Their children still remember their altars
and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills.
3 My mountain in the field, which I will give,
along with your wealth and all your treasures, as plunder–
and your high places too–because of the sin throughout your land.
4 You, of your own accord, will give up your heritage that I gave you.
I will cause you to serve your enemies in a land which you do not know,
for you have kindled a fire in my anger which will burn forever.”
5 The Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who relies on the strength of mankind,
and whose heart turns away 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 like 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.
He will not be concerned about a year of drought,
and it will stop producing fruit.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and it is exceedingly corrupt.
Who can understand it?
10 I, the Lord, search the mind.
I test the heart,
to give to every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
11 As the partridge that sits on eggs which she has not laid,
so is he who gets rich by unjust means.
In the middle of his life, it will leave him.
At the end of his days, he will be a fool.”
Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance
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 put to shame.
Those who depart from Me will be written in the dirt,
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 They ask me,
“Where is the word of the Lord?
Let it be fulfilled now.”
16 As for me, I have not run away from being your shepherd.
Nor have I desired this woeful day.
You know this. You were witness to everything that came from of my lips.
17 Do not become a terror to me.
You are my refuge in the day of disaster.
18 Let those who persecute me be put to shame,
but let me not be put to shame.
Let them be terrified,
but do not let me be terrified.
Bring on them the day of disaster,
destroying them with double destruction.
The Sabbath Renewed
19 The Lord said this to me: “Go and stand at the People’s Gate, 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 word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, all of Judah and all of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter in by these gates.
21 This is what the Lord says: Be careful not to carry anything heavy on the Sabbath day or to bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem. 22 Do not carry anything out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Do not do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they did not listen. They did not turn their ear to me but were stiff necked, so they could not hear or receive instruction.
24 It will happen, if you diligently listen to me, says the Lord, to carry no heavy loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but make the Sabbath day holy, doing no work on it, 25 then kings and princes will enter the gates of this city and will sit on the throne of David, 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, grain offerings, and frankincense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving, to the house of the Lord.
27 But if you will not listen to me and make the Sabbath day holy, by not carrying heavy burdens or entering 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, and it will not be quenched.’ ”