Jeremiah 17:1–9

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.

²As the remembering of their children,

so is the remembering of their altars

and their poles of Asherah worship

beside the leafy trees^a on the high hills.

³O 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.

⁴And 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

⁵Thus says Yahweh,

“Cursed is the person who trusts in humankind

and makes flesh his strength,^c

and turns aside his heart from Yahweh.

⁶And 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.

⁷Blessed be the person who trusts in Yahweh,

and Yahweh is his trust.

⁸For 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 leaves^g will be luxuriant,

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

and it will not cease from the bearing of fruit.

⁹The heart is deceitful more than anything else,

and it is disastrous. Who can understand it?