The Epistle [or Letter] of Jeremiah [Jeremy] [The Epistle of Jeremy [sometimes Chapter Six of Baruch]]
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Anonymous
6:41 Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.
6:42 Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.
6:43 The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.
6:44 Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods?
6:45 They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.
6:46 And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?
6:47 For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.
6:48 For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.
6:49 How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?
6:50 For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:
6:51 And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
6:52 Who then may not know that they are no gods?
6:53 For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.
6:54 Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.
6:55 Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.
6:56 Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?
6:57 Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.
6:58 Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong do take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.
6:59 Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods, or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods.
6:60 For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.
6:61 In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.
6:62 And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.
6:63 And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.
6:64 Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.
6:65 Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,
6:66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings:
6:67 Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
6:68 The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.
6:69 It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.
6:70 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.
6:71 And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is cast into the dark.
6:72 And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.
6:73 Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.