1
A copy of an epistle which Jeremy 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
2
Because of the sins which ye have committed before God ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians
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
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
5
Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers neither be ye afraid of them when ye see the multitude before them and behind them worshipping them
6
But say ye in your hearts O Lord we must worship thee
7
For mine angel is with you and I myself caring for your souls
8
As for their tongue it is polished by the workman and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver yet are they but false and cannot speak
9
And taking gold as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay they make crowns for the heads of their gods
10
Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver and bestow it upon themselves
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
12
Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth though they be covered with purple raiment
13
They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple when there is much upon them
14
And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre as though he were a judge of the country
15
He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves
16
Whereby they are known not to be gods therefore fear them not
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
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
19
They light them candles yea more than for themselves whereof they cannot see one
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
21
Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple
22
Upon their bodies and heads sit bats swallows and birds and the cats also
23
By this ye may know that they are no gods therefore fear them not
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
25
The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price
26
They are borne upon shoulders having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth
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
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
29
Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices by these things ye may know that they are no gods fear them not
30
For how can they be called gods because women set meat before the gods of silver gold and wood
31
And the priests sit in their temples having their clothes rent and their heads and beards shaven and nothing upon their heads
32
They roar and cry before their gods as men do at the feast when one is dead
33
The priests also take off their garments and clothe their wives and children
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
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
36
They can save no man from death neither deliver the weak from the mighty
37
They cannot restore a blind man to his sight nor help any man in his distress
38
They can shew no mercy to the widow nor do good to the fatherless
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
40
How should a man then think and say that they are gods when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them
41
Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak they bring him and intreat Bel that he may speak as though he were able to understand
42
Yet they cannot understand this themselves and leave them for they have no knowledge
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
44
Whatsoever is done among them is false how may it then be thought or said that they are gods
45
They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be
46
And they themselves that made them can never continue long how should then the things that are made of them be gods
47
For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after
48
For when there cometh any war or plague upon them the priests consult with themselves where they may be hidden with them
49
How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods which can neither save themselves from war nor from plague
50
For seeing they be but of wood and overlaid with silver and gold it shall be known hereafter that they are false
51
And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods but the works f men’s hands and that there is no work of God in them
52
Who then may not know that they are no gods
53
For neither can they set up a king in the land nor give rain unto men
54
Neither can they judge their own cause nor redress a wrong being unable for they are as crows between heaven and earth
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
56
Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies how can it then be thought or said that they be gods
57
Neither are those gods of wood and laid over with silver or gold able to escape either from thieves or robbers
58
Whose gold and silver and garments wherewith they are clothed they that are strong take and go away withal neither are they able to help themselves
59
Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power or else a profitable vessel in an house which the owner shall have use of than such false gods or to be a door in an house to keep such things therein than such false gods or a pillar of wood in a palace than such false gods
60
For sun moon and stars being bright and sent to do their offices are obedient
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
62
And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world they do as they are bidden
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 shew nor power
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
65
Knowing therefore that they are no gods fear them not
66
For they can neither curse nor bless kings
67
Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen nor shine as the sun nor give light as the moon
68
The beasts are better than they for they can get under a cover and help themselves
69
It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods therefore fear them not
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
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
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
73
Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols for he shall be far from reproach