Jeremiah Chapter 17
Judah’s Sin
1 “Judah’s sin is recorded with an iron stylus;
with a diamond point it’s engraved on their heart
and the horns on their altars.
2 As well as they remember their children,
they remember their pagan altars and Asherah poles
beside every green tree on the tall hills.
3 My mountain in the open country,
I’ll give your wealth and treasures for spoil
as the price for your sin throughout your territory.
4 You’ll voluntarily let go of the inheritance I gave you;
I’ll make you serve your enemies in a foreign land
because you’ve sparked my anger
that will keep burning.”
Jer 17:1-4
5Yahveh says,
“People are under a curse who trust in other people,
who rely on physical strength,
who turn their hearts away from me.
6They’re like a tamarisk shrub in the desert
that won’t flourish;
they’ll live in stony wastes,
in a salted land with no inhabitants.
7 Fortunate are the people that trust in Yahveh,
that put their faith in him.
8They’re like a tree planted by water
that sends down its roots
and doesn’t worry when hot weather comes.
Its leaves stay green;
it doesn’t worry about a year-long drought;
it keeps bearing fruit.
Jer 17:5-8
9 “The heart is more deceitful than anything;
it’s desperately corrupt.
Who can make sense of it?
10 I, Yahveh, search hearts and test minds
to repay everyone according to their deeds
as measured by consequences.
Jer 17:9-10
Jeremiah’s Trust in God
11 People that make a fortune unjustly
are like a partridge that gathers a brood she didn’t hatch;
in midlife they’ll lose their wealth
and in the end be fools.”
12 From the beginning, our sanctuary
has been a glorious throne on high.
13 Yahveh, hope of Israel,
everybody that leaves you ends up disgraced;
a record will be kept of those who turn away on earth
because they’ve left Yahveh, the spring of fresh water.
14 Yahveh, I’ll be healed if you heal me;
I’ll be saved if you save me;
you’re the only one I praise.
15 They keep asking to me,
“Where’s a message from Yahveh?
Let it come now!”
16 But I haven’t hurried away from serving as your shepherd;
I haven’t desired a time for disaster, as you know.
Whatever I said, I said to your face.
17 Don’t be a terror to me;
you’re my refuge in disaster.
18 Disgrace those who harass me;
don’t let me be the one disgraced.
Bring disaster on them;
crush them with double disaster!
Jer 17:11-18
Observing the Sabbath
19 Yahveh told me,
“Go stand in the gate that Judah’s kings use, and in the other gates around Jerusalem. 20 Say, ‘Listen to Yahveh’s message, Judah, kings of Judah, people living in Jerusalem who use these gates: 21 For your own good, don’t carry any load on the Sabbath or bring anything in through these gates. 22 Don’t carry a load out of your houses on the Sabbath or work. Set the Sabbath aside like I told your ancestors. 23 But they stiffened their necks and wouldn’t follow directions.
Jer 17:19-23
24 “’Listen carefully and don’t carry any load through this city’s gates on the Sabbath. Set it aside by resting on it. 25 Then through these gates will come kings and officials who sit on David’s throne, who ride in chariots and on horses, people of Judah and Jerusalem. People will live in this city permanently. 26 They’ll come in from the towns in Judah and places around Jerusalem, from Benjamin, the western foothills, the hill country, and the Negev. They’ll bring thanksgiving sacrifices to Yahveh’s Temple. 27 If you don’t set the Sabbath aside, I’ll light a fire in Jerusalem’s gates. It will spread to the palaces in Jerusalem, and it won’t be put out.’”
Jer 17:24-27