The Sin of Judah

17 “The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus,

with a point of diamond it is engraved

on the tablet of their heart,

and on the horns of their altars.

2 As the remembering of their children,

so is the remembering of their altars

and their poles of Asherah worship

beside the leafy treesa on the high hills.

3 O my mountain in the open country,

I will give your wealth, all your treasures, for spoil,

your high places, because of your sin,

throughout all your territories.

4 And ⌊you will let go your hand from your inheritance⌋b

that I gave to you,

and I will make you serve your enemies

in the land that you do not know,

for you kindled a fire in my anger,

until eternity it will be kindled.”

The One Who Trusts in Humankind Contrasted With the One Who Trusts in Yahweh

5 Thus says Yahweh,

“Cursed is the person who trusts in humankind

and makes flesh his ⌊strength⌋,c

and turns aside his heart from Yahweh.

6 And he will be like a juniper in the wilderness,d

and he will not see when good comes,

and he will dwell in the parched places in the desert,e

in a land of salt flats,f where no one lives.

7 Blessed be the person who trusts in Yahweh,

and Yahweh is his trust.

8 For he will be like a tree planted by water,

and to the stream it sends its roots,

and it will not fear when heat comes,

and its leavesg will be luxuriant,

and in the year of drought it will not be anxious,

and it will not cease from the bearing of fruit.

9 The heart is deceitful more than anything else,

and it is disastrous. Who can understand it?

10 I, Yahweh, examine the ⌊mind⌋,h

I test the ⌊heart⌋,i

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.”

The Fountain of Living Water

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.

14 Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed,

save me, and I will be saved,

for you are my praise.

15 Look, they are saying to me,

“Where is the word of Yahweh?

Please let it come.”

16 But I, I have not run away from being a shepherd ⌊who follows you⌋,j

and I have not desired the disastrous day.

You, you know the pronouncement of my lips,

it was before your face.

17 You must not become to me a terror,

you are my refuge in the day of disaster.

18 Let my persecutors be put to shame,

⌊but as for me⌋,k do not let me be put to shame.

Let them be dismayed,

⌊but as for me⌋,l do not let me be dismayed.

Bring on them the day of disaster,

and with double destruction, destroy them.