Chapter 17
1 " The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron , and with the point of a diamond . It is engraved on the tablet of their heart , and on the horns of your altars .
2 Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills .
3 My mountain in the field , I will give your substance and all your treasures for a plunder, and your high places , because of sin , throughout all your borders .
4 You , even of yourself , will discontinue from your heritage that I gave you . I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you don’t know , for you have kindled a fire in my anger which will burn forever ."
5 Yahweh says : "Cursed is the man who trusts in man , relies on strength of flesh , and whose heart departs from Yahweh .
6 For he will be like a bush in the desert , and will not see when good comes , but will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness , an uninhabited salt land .
7 " Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh , and whose confidence is in Yahweh .
8 For he will be as a tree planted by the waters , who spreads out its roots by the river , and will not fear when heat comes , but its leaf will be green , and will not be concerned in the year of drought . It won’t cease from yielding fruit .
9 The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it ?
10 " I , Yahweh , search the mind . I try the heart , even to give every man according to his ways , according to the fruit of his doings ."
11 As the partridge that sits on eggs which she has not laid , so is he who gets riches , and not by right . In the middle of his days , they will leave him . At his end, he will be a fool .
12 A glorious throne , set on high from the beginning , is the place of our sanctuary .
13 Yahweh , the hope of Israel , all who forsake you will be disappointed. Those who depart from me will be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Yahweh , the spring of living waters .
14 Heal me , O Yahweh , and I will be healed . Save me , and I will be saved ; for you are my praise .
15 Behold , they ask me , " Where is Yahweh ’s word ? Let it be fulfilled now ."
16 As for me , I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you . I haven’t desired the woeful day . You know . That which came out of my lips was before your face .
17 Don’t be a terror to me . You are my refuge in the day of evil .
18 Let them be disappointed who persecute me , but don’t let me be disappointed. Let them be dismayed , but don’t let me be dismayed . Bring on them the day of evil , and destroy them with double destruction .
19 Yahweh said this to me : " Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people , through which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out , and in all the gates of Jerusalem .
20 Tell them , ‘ Hear Yahweh ’s word , you kings of Judah , all Judah , and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem , that enter in by these gates :
21 Yahweh says , " Be careful , and bear no burden on the Sabbath day , nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem .
22 Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day . Don’t do any work , but make the Sabbath day holy , as I commanded your fathers.
23 But they didn’t listen . They didn’t turn their ear , but made their neck stiff , that they might not hear , and might not receive instruction .
24 It will happen , if you diligently listen to me ," says Yahweh , " to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day , but to make the Sabbath day holy , to do no work therein;
25 then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David ’s throne , riding in chariots and on horses , they and their princes , the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem ; and this city will remain forever .
26 They will come from the cities of Judah , and from the places around Jerusalem , from the land of Benjamin , from the lowland , from the hill country , and from the South , bringing burnt offerings , sacrifices , meal offerings , and frankincense , and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving to Yahweh ’s house .
27 But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy , and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day , then I will kindle a fire in its gates , and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem . It will not be quenched ."’"