The Sin and Punishment of Judah

“ The sin of Judah is written with a stylus of iron;

with the nail of a diamond it is engraved

upon the tablet of their heart

and on the horns of your⁺ altars,

while their sons remember their altars and their Asherah poles,

by the green trees on the high hills.

O My mountain in the field,

I will give your wealth

and all your treasures as plunder,

your high places of sin

within all your borders!

And you shall let go—even you—

of your inheritance that I gave to you.

And I will make you serve your enemies

in the land that you have not known.

For you⁺ have kindled a fire in My nose;

it will burn even to forever!”

5Thus says YHWH:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

and makes flesh his arm†

and turns away his heart from YHWH.

6And he shall be like a shrub in the desert plain,

and he shall not see when good comes,

and he shall dwell in the parched places in the desert,

in a salt land without dweller.

7Blessed is the man who trusts in YHWH,

and his hope is YHWH.

8And he shall be planted like a tree by the waters,

and which by the river sends out its roots;

and it does not fear when the heat comes,

and its leaf will be green,

and in the year of drought it is not anxious,

and it will not leave off from producing fruit.

9The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately sick—

who can know it?

10I, YHWH, am the One searching the heart

and testing the kidneys,

even to give to each man according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.

11As a partridge that broods and not having brought forth,

is one making riches and not with justice;

in the midst of his days it will leave him,

and at his end he will become a fool.”

Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance

12A throne of glory on high from the beginning,

is the place of our sanctuary.

13O YHWH, the Hope of Israel,

all those forsaking You will be put to shame—

(and those turning away from Me will be written in the earth).

For they have forsaken YHWH,

the fountain of Living waters.

14Heal me, O YHWH, and I will be healed;

save me, and I will be saved,

for You are my praise.

15Behold, they say to me,

“Where is the word of YHWH?

Let it come now.

16And I have not hurried away from being a shepherd after You,

and I have not desired the day of despair;

You know that which came out of my lips,

for it was before Your face.

17Be not a terror to me;

You are my hope in the day of evil.

18Let them be confounded who pursue me,

and do not let me be ashamed;

let them be dismayed;

let me not be dismayed!

Bring upon them the day of evil,

and destroy them with double destruction!

Restoring the Sabbath
(Nehemiah 13:15–22)

19Thus said YHWH to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the sons of the people, by which the kings of Judah enter into it, and by which they go out of it, and in all the gates of Jerusalem.

20And you shall say to them: ‘Hear the word of YHWH, O kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all those dwelling in Jerusalem who enter by these gates. 21Thus says YHWH: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day to bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem. 22You shall not bring out a load from your⁺ houses on the Sabbath day, and you⁺ shall not do any work, and keep holy the Sabbath day, as I commanded your⁺ fathers. 23They did not listen and they did not incline their ear, and they stiffened their neck, that they would not hear, and they would not receive discipline.

24And it will come to pass, if you⁺ listen carefully to Me, a declaration of YHWH, and do not bring in a load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and consecrate the Sabbath day to not do any work on it, 25then will come into the gates of this city kings and princes, sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, with the men of Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem; and this city will abide forever. 26They will come from the cities of Judah, and from from the places around Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the Shephelah† and the hill country, and from the Negev, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and grain offerings, and frankincense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of YHWH.

27And if you⁺ will not listen to Me to consecrate the Sabbath day and not to carry a load and enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will consume the citadels of Jerusalem, and it will not be quenched.’”