Jeremiah 17:5–15

⁵The Lord says,

“Those who trust in man are under my curse.

They depend on human strength.

Their hearts turn away from me.

⁶They will be like a bush in a dry and empty land.

They will not enjoy success when it comes.

They will live in dry places in the desert.

It is a land of salt where no one else lives.

⁷“But I will bless any man who trusts in me.

I will show my favor to the one who depends on me.

⁸He will be like a tree that is planted near water.

It sends out its roots beside a stream.

It is not afraid when heat comes.

Its leaves are always green.

It does not worry when there is no rain.

It always bears fruit.”

⁹A human heart is more dishonest than anything else.

It can’t be healed.

Who can understand it?

¹⁰The 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.”

¹¹Some 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.

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

From the beginning it has been high and lifted up.

¹³Lord, 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.

¹⁴Lord, heal me. Then I will be healed.

Save me from my enemies. Then I will be saved.

You are the one I praise.

¹⁵They keep saying to me,

“What has happened to the message the Lord gave you?

Let it come true right now!”