Jeremiah 17:1–9

The Persistent Sin of Judah

17The sin of Judah is written

with an iron stylus. ^o

With a diamond point

it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts ^p

and on the horns of their ^qaltars,

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 ^t

in all your borders. ^u

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, ^v

for you have set My anger on fire; ^w

it will burn forever.

Curse and Blessing

⁵This is what the Lord says:

The man who trusts in mankind, ^x

who makes human flesh his strength ^y

and turns his heart from the Lord is cursed.

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

he cannot see when good comes

but dwells in the parched places in the wilderness,

in a salt land where no one lives. ^a

⁷The man who trusts in the Lord,

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

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

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, ^d

and incurable—who can understand it? ^e