Jeremiah 17:9–13

9 The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

10 “I the Lord search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward each person according to their conduct,

according to what their deeds deserve.”

11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay

are those who gain riches by unjust means.

When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them,

and in the end they will prove to be fools.

12 A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning,

is the place of our sanctuary.

13 Lord, you are the hope of Israel;

all who forsake you will be put to shame.

Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust

because they have forsaken the Lord,

the spring of living water.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. 13 O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,

and desperately wicked.

Who really knows how bad it is?

10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts

and examine secret motives.

I give all people their due rewards,

according to what their actions deserve.”

11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid,

so are those who get their wealth by unjust means.

At midlife they will lose their riches;

in the end, they will become poor old fools.

12 But we worship at your throne—

eternal, high, and glorious!

13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,

all who turn away from you will be disgraced.

They will be buried in the dust of the earth,

for they have abandoned the Lord, the fountain of living water.

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,

And desperately wicked;

Who can know it?

10 I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give every man according to his ways,

According to the fruit of his doings.

11 “As a partridge that broods but does not hatch,

So is he who gets riches, but not by right;

It will leave him in the midst of his days,

And at his end he will be a fool.”

12 A glorious high throne from the beginning

Is the place of our sanctuary.

13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,

All who forsake You shall be ashamed.

“Those who depart from Me

Shall be written in the earth,

Because they have forsaken the Lord,

The fountain of living waters.”

9 “More than anything else, a person’s mind is evil

and cannot be healed.

Who can understand it?

10 But I, the Lord, look into a person’s heart

and test the mind.

So I can decide what each one deserves;

I can give each one the right payment for what he does.”

11 Like a bird hatching an egg it did not lay,

so are the people who get rich by cheating.

When their lives are half finished, they will lose their riches.

At the end of their lives, it will be clear they were fools.

12 From the beginning, our Temple has been honored

as a glorious throne for God.

13 Lord, hope of Israel,

those who leave you will be shamed.

People who quit following the Lord will be like a name written in the dust,

because they have left the Lord, the spring of living water.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? 10 I, Jehovah, 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 sitteth on eggs which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.

12 A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. 13 O Jehovah, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be put to shame. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Jehovah, the fountain of living waters.

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and incurable; who can know it? 10 I Jehovah search the heart, I try the reins, even to give each one according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. 11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs it hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches and not by right: in the midst of his days shall he leave them, and at his end shall be a fool.

12 A throne of glory, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. 13 Thou hope of Israel, Jehovah! all that forsake thee shall be ashamed. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth; because they have forsaken Jehovah, the fountain of living waters.

9 “The human mind is the most deceitful of all things. It is incurable. 

No one can understand how deceitful it is. 

10 I, the Lord, search minds and test hearts. 

I will reward each person for what he has done. 

I will reward him for the results of his actions. 

11 A person who gets rich dishonestly is like a partridge 

that hatches eggs it did not lay. 

During his lifetime, he will lose his wealth. 

In the end, he will be a godless fool.” 

12 Our holy place is a glorious throne, 

highly honored from the beginning. 

13 O Lord, the Hope of Israel, all who abandon you will be put to shame. 

Those who turn away from you will be written in dust, 

because they abandon the Lord, 

the fountain of life-giving water. 

9 The heart is more deceitful than anything else,

and incurable—who can understand it?

10 I, Yahweh, examine the mind,

I test the heart

to give to each according to his way,

according to what his actions deserve.

11 He who makes a fortune unjustly

is like a partridge that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.

In the middle of his days

his riches will abandon him,

so in the end he will be a fool.

12 A throne of glory

on high from the beginning

is the place of our sanctuary.

13 Lord, the hope of Israel,

all who abandon You

will be put to shame.

All who turn away from Me

will be written in the dirt,

for they have abandoned

the Lord, the fountain of living water.

9 The heart is devious above all else;

it is perverse—

who can understand it?

10 I the Lord test the mind

and search the heart,

to give to all according to their ways,

according to the fruit of their doings.

11 Like the partridge hatching what it did not lay,

so are all who amass wealth unjustly;

in midlife it will leave them,

and at their end they will prove to be fools.

12 O glorious throne, exalted from the beginning,

shrine of our sanctuary!

13 O hope of Israel! O Lord!

All who forsake you shall be put to shame;

those who turn away from you shall be recorded in the underworld,

for they have forsaken the fountain of living water, the Lord.

9 The heart is deceitful more than anything else,

and it is disastrous. Who can understand it?

10 I, Yahweh, examine the mind,

I test the heart,

and give to each one according to his way,

according to the fruit of his deeds.

11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay

is one who amasses wealth without justice.

In the middle of his days it will leave him,

and at his end he will prove to be a fool.”

12 A lofty throne of glory from the beginning

is the place of our sanctuary.

13 O Yahweh, the hope of Israel,

all those who forsake you will be put to shame,

and those who turn aside from you in the earth will be recorded,

for they have forsaken the fountain of living water, Yahweh.

9 A human heart is more dishonest than anything else.

It can’t be healed.

Who can understand it?

10 The Lord says, “I look deep down inside human hearts.

I see what is in people’s minds.

I reward a man in keeping with his conduct.

I bless him based on what he has done.”

11 Some people get rich in the wrong way.

They are like a partridge that hatches eggs it didn’t lay.

When their lives are half over, their riches will desert them.

In the end they will prove how foolish they have been.

12 Our temple is where the Lord’s glorious throne is.

From the beginning it has been high and lifted up.

13 Lord, you are Israel’s only hope.

Everyone who deserts you will be put to shame.

The names of those who turn away from you will be listed among the dead.

Lord, they have deserted you.

You are the spring of water that gives life.

9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else

And is desperately sick;

Who can understand it?

10 “I, the Lord, search the heart,

I test the mind,

Even to give to each man according to his ways,

According to the results of his deeds.

11 “As a partridge that hatches eggs which it has not laid,

So is he who makes a fortune, but unjustly;

In the midst of his days it will forsake him,

And in the end he will be a fool.”

12 A glorious throne on high from the beginning

Is the place of our sanctuary.

13 O Lord, the hope of Israel,

All who forsake You will be put to shame.

Those who turn away on earth will be written down,

Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord.