Jeremiah 17:1–9

THE PERSISTENT SIN OF JUDAH

17The sin of Judah is inscribed

with an iron stylus.^p

With a diamond point

it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts^q

and on the horns of their^A altars,

²while their children remember their altars

and their Asherah poles, by the green trees

on the high hills^r—

³my mountains in the countryside.

I will give up your wealth

and all your treasures as plunder^s

because of the sin of your high places^B

in all your borders.^t

⁴You will, on your own, relinquish your inheritance

that I gave you.

I will make you serve your enemies

in a land you do not know,^u

for you have set my anger on fire;^v

it will burn forever.

CURSE AND BLESSING

⁵This is what the Lord says:

Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind.^w

He makes human flesh his strength,^x

and his heart turns from the Lord.

⁶He will be like a juniper in the Arabah;^y

he cannot see when good comes

but dwells in the parched places in the wilderness,

in a salt land where no one lives.^z

⁷The person who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence indeed is the Lord, is blessed.^aa

⁸He will be like a tree planted by water:^ab

it sends its roots out toward a stream,

it doesn’t fear when heat comes,

and its foliage remains green.

It will not worry in a year of drought

or cease producing fruit.

THE DECEITFUL HEART

⁹The heart is more deceitful than anything else,^ac

and incurable—who can understand it?^ad