1 For the sins that you have sinned before God, you shall be led away captive into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.
1 A copy ¹of the epistle that Jeremias sent to them that were to be led away captives into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to declare to them according to what was commanded him by God. For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.
2 Being entered therefore into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and long times even unto seven generations: and after this I will bring you forth from thence with peace.
2 And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will bring you away from thence with peace.
3 But now you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and of stone, and of wood to be carried upon shoulders, shewing fear to the Gentiles.
3 ²But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the Gentiles.
4 Beware therefore lest you also be like to the doing of strangers, and you be afraid, and fear take you in them.
4 Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you.
5 Seeing therefore the multitude adoring behind, and before, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored o Lord.
5 But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord.
6 For mine Angel is with you: and myself will ask account of your souls.
6 For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of your souls.
7 For their tongue polished by the craftsman, themselves also laid over with gold, and silver are false things, and they cannot speak.
7 For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot speak.
8 And as to a virgin that loveth ornaments: so taking gold their gods are forged.
8 And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they take gold and make them up.
9 Their gods certes have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.
9 Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.
10 Yea and they give thereof to strumpets, and they deck whores: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they deck their gods.
10 Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn their gods.
11 But these are not delivered from the rust, and the moth.
11 And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.
12 And these being covered with a purple garment, they wipe their face for the dust of the house, which is very much among them.
12 But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among them.
13 And he hath a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, that killeth him not that offendeth against him.
13 This holdeth a scepter as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.
14 He hath also in his hand a sword, and an axe, but himself he delivereth not from the sword, and from robbers, whereby be it known to you that they are not gods.
14 And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that they are not gods.
15 Therefore fear them not. For as a man's vessel being broken is made unprofitable: such also are their gods:
15 Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:
16 they being placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.
16 When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.
17 And as upon one, that hath offended the king, the gates be shut round about, or as the dead brought to the grave, so do the priests guard the doors with shuttings, and locks, lest they be spoiled of thieves.
17 And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by thieves.
18 They light candles to them, and that many, of the which they can see none: but they are as beams in the house.
18 They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.
19 And they say that the serpents which are of the earth, gnaw out their hearts, whiles they eat them and their garment, and they feel not.
19 And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they feel it not.
20 Their faces are black with the smoke, that is made in the house.
20 Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.
21 The owls, and the swallows fly upon their body, and upon their head, and the birds also, the cats in like manner.
21 Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.
22 Whereby you may know that they are not gods. Therefore fear them not.
22 Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them not.
23 The gold also which they have, is for beauty, unless a man wipe off the rust, they shall not shine: for neither when they were molten, did they feel.
23 The gold also which they have, is for show, but except a man wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, did they feel it.
24 With all price are they bought, whereas there is no breath in them.
24 Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them.
25 As being without feet they are carried upon shoulders, shewing their baseness to men. Be they confounded also that worship them.
25 ³And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that worship them.
26 Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up of themselves, nor if a man set him upright, shall he stand by himself, but as to dead men their gifts shall be set before them.
26 Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead.
27 Their priests sell their sacrifices, and abuse them: likewise also their wives plucking from them, impart nothing, neither to the sick, nor to the beggar.
27 The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor.
28 Of their sacrifices women in childbed, and in flowers do touch: knowing therefore by these things that they are not gods, fear them not.
28 The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: knowing, therefore, by these things that they are not gods, fear them not.
29 For whence are they called gods? Because women offer to the gods of silver, and gold, and wood.
29 For how can they be called gods? Because women set offerings before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood:
30 And priests sit in their houses, having their garments rent, and their heads, & beard shaven, whose heads be bare.
30 And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.
31 And they were crying before their gods, as at the supper of the dead.
31 And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
32 The priests take away their garments, and they clothe their wives & their children.
32 The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and their children.
33 Neither if they suffer any evil, nor if any good of any man, are they able to recompence it: neither can they make a king, nor take him away:
33 And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king, nor put him down:
34 In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man vow a vow unto them, and perform it not; neither this do they require.
34 In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man make a vow to them, and perform it not: they cannot require it.
35 They deliver not a man from death, nor save the weak from the mightier.
35 They cannot deliver a man from death, nor save the weak from the mighty.
36 The blind man they restore not to his sight: they shall not deliver a man out of necessity.
36 They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man from distress.
37 They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
37 They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
38 Like unto the stones of the mountain are their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver. & they that worship them, shall be confounded:
38 Their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like the stones that are hewn out of the mountains: and they that worship them shall be confounded.
39 How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods?
39 How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods?
40 Moreover the Chaldees themselves not honoring them: who when they hear that the dumb cannot speak, they offer it to Bel, requesting of him, that it may speak.
40 Even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them: who when they hear of one dumb that cannot speak, they present him to Bel, entreating him, that he may speak.
41 As though they could feel that have no motion: and they when they shall understand, will leave them: for their gods themselves have no sense.
41 As though they could be sensible that have no motion themselves: and they, when they shall perceive this, will leave them: for their gods themselves have no sense.
42 And women compassed with cords, sit in the ways, burning the bones of olives.
42 The women also, with cords about them, sit in the ways, burning olive stones.
43 And when one of them being drawn of some passenger shall lie with him, she upbraideth her neighbour, that she is not counted worthy, as herself, neither is her cord broken.
43 And when anyone of them, drawn away by some passenger, lieth with him, she upbraideth her neighbor, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.
44 But all things that are done about them are false, how is it then to be thought, or to be said, that they be gods?
44 But all things that are done about them, are false: how is it then to be thought, or to be said, that they are gods?
45 And they are made by craftsmen, & by goldsmiths. They shall be nothing else, but that which the priests will have them to be.
45 And they are made by workmen, and by goldsmiths. They shall be nothing else but what the priests will have them to be.
46 For the artificers themselves, that make them, are of no long time. Why, can those things then that are made by them, be gods?
46 For the artificers themselves that make them, are of no long continuance. Can those things then that are made by them, be gods?
47 But they have left forged things & reproach, to them that shall come after.
47 But they have left false things and reproach to them that come after.
48 For when battle cometh upon them, and evils: the priests devise with themselves, where they may hide themselves with them.
48 For when war cometh upon them, or evils, the priests consult with themselves, where they may hide themselves with them.
49 How then may they be thought, that they are gods, which neither deliver themselves from battle, nor save themselves from evils?
49 How then can they be thought to be gods, that can neither deliver themselves from war, nor save themselves from evils?
50 For seeing they be of wood, & laid over with gold, and with silver, it shall be known afterwards that they are false things, of all the Gentiles, and kings: Which are manifest that they are no gods, but the works of men's hands, and no work of God is with them.
50 For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by all nations, and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, but the work of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
51 Whence then is it known, that they are not gods, but the works of men's hands, & no work of God is in them?
51 Whence, therefore, is it known that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and no work of God is in them?
52 Aking to the country they raise not up, neither shall they give rain to men.
52 They cannot set up a king over the land, nor give rain to men.
53 Judgement also they shall not discern, neither shall they deliver countries from injury: because they can do nothing, as crows between the heaven and the earth.
53 They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression: because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth.
54 For when fire shall fall into the house of the wooden, and silver, and golden gods, their priests indeed shall flee, and be delivered: but themselves as beams shall be burnt in the midst.
54 For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams.
55 And king and battle they shall not resist. How is it then to be supposed, or to be received that they are gods?
55 And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be supposed, or admitted, that they are gods?
56 Not from thieves, nor from robbers shall the gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with gold, and with silver deliver themselves, stronger than which are the wicked men.
56 Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or robbers: they that are stronger than them,
57 The gold, and silver, and the garment wherewith they are covered, they shall take from them, and shall depart, neither shall they help themselves.
57 Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they help themselves.
58 Therefore it is better to be a king shewing his strength: or a profitable vessel in the house, wherein he will glory that possesseth it: or a door in the house, which keepeth the things that are therein, than false gods.
58 Therefore it is better to be a king that showeth his power: or else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe that are therein, than such false gods.
59 The sun certes, and the moon, and the stars whereas they are bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, obey.
59 The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, are obedient.
60 Likewise also the lightning, when it shall appear is perspicuous: and the wind also bloweth the self same in every country.
60 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.
61 And the clouds, which when God shall command to walk throughout the whole world, they do that which is commanded them.
61 And the clouds, when God commandeth them to go over the whole world, do that which is commanded them.
62 The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and woods, doeth that which is commanded it. But these neither in shapes, nor in virtues are like to one of them.
62 The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in show, nor in power, are like to anyone of them.
63 Wherefore neither is it to be thought, nor to be said, that they be gods: whereas they can neither judge judgment, nor do any thing for men.
63 Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any good to men.
64 Knowing therefore that they are not gods, then fear them not.
64 Knowing, therefore, that they are not gods, fear them not.
65 For neither shall they curse kings, nor bless them.
65 For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them.
66 Signs also in the heaven to the Gentiles they shew not, neither shall they shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
66 Neither do they show signs in the heaven to the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
67 Beasts are better than they, which can fly under the roof, and profit themselves.
67 Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and help themselves.
68 By no means therefore is it manifest unto us, that they are gods: for which cause fear them not.
68 Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so fear them not.
69 For as in a garden of cucumbers a scarecrow keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold.
69 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold.
70 After the same sort also in a garden the white thorn, upon the which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark.
70 They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark.
71 By the purple also and the murex colour laid upon them, which fadeth, you shall know that they are not gods. At the last also they are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.
71 By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.
72 Better is therefore the just man, that hath not idols: for he shall be far from reproaches.
72 Better, therefore, is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach.