Baruch Chapter 6
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
The epistle of Jeremias to the captives, as a preservative against idolatry.
A copy of the epistle that Jeremias sent to them that were to be led away captives into Babylon, by the king of Babylon, to declare to them according to what was commanded him by God.
6:1. For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.
6:2. And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will bring you away from thence with peace.
Seven generations.... That is, seventy years.
6:3. But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the Gentiles.
6:4. Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you.
6:5. But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord.
6:6. For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of your souls.
6:7. For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot speak.
6:8. And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they take gold and make them up.
6:9. Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.
6:10. Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn their gods.
6:11. And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.
6:12. But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among them.
6:13. This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.
6:14. And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that they are not gods.
6:15. Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:
6:16. When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.
6:17. And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by thieves.
6:18. They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.
6:19. And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they feel it not.
6:20. Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.
6:21. Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.
6:22. Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them not.
6:23. The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, did they feel it.
6:24. Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them.
6:25. And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that worship them.
6:26. Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead.
6:27. The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor.
6:28. The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: knowing, therefore, by these things that they are not gods, fear them not.
6:29. For how can they be called gods? because women set offerings before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood:
6:30. And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.
6:31. And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
6:32. The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and their children.
6:33. And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king, nor put him down:
6:34. In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man make a vow to them, and perform it not: they cannot require it.
6:35. They cannot deliver a man from death, nor save the weak from the mighty.
6:36. They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man from distress.
6:37. They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.