1The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron , and with the point of a diamond : it is graven upon the tablet of their heart , and upon the horns of your altars ; 2whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees upon the high hills . 3O my mountain in the field , I will give thy substance and all thy treasures for a spoil, and thy high places , because of sin , throughout all thy borders . 4And thou , even of thyself, shalt discontinue from thy heritage that I gave thee ; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not : for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger which shall burn for ever .
Cursed is the One Who Trusts in Man
5Thus saith Jehovah : Cursed is the man that trusteth in man , and maketh flesh his arm , and whose heart departeth from Jehovah . 6For he shall be like the heath in the desert , and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness , a salt land and not inhabited . 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah , and whose trust Jehovah is . 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters , that spreadeth out its roots by the river , and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green ; and shall not be careful in the year of drought , neither shall cease from yielding fruit .
The Heart is Deceitful
9The heart is deceitful above all things , and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it ? 10I , Jehovah , search the mind , I try the heart , even to give every man according to his ways , according to the fruit of his doings .
The Coming Judgment and Hope for Restoration
11As the partridge that sitteth on eggs which she hath not laid , so is he that getteth riches , and not by right ; in the midst of his days they shall leave him , and at his end he shall be a fool . 12A glorious throne , set on high from the beginning , is the place of our sanctuary . 13O Jehovah , the hope of Israel , all that forsake thee shall be put to shame. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Jehovah , the fountain of living waters . 14Heal me , O Jehovah , and I shall be healed ; save me , and I shall be saved : for thou art my praise . 15Behold , they say unto me , Where is the word of Jehovah ? let it come now . 16As for me , I have not hastened from being a shepherd after thee ; neither have I desired the woeful day ; thou knowest : that which came out of my lips was before thy face . 17Be not a terror unto me : thou art my refuge in the day of evil . 18Let them be put to shame that persecute me , but let not me be put to shame; let them be dismayed , but let not me be dismayed ; bring upon them the day of evil , and destroy them with double destruction . 19Thus said Jehovah unto me : Go , and stand in the gate of the children of the people , whereby the kings of Judah come in , and by which they go out , and in all the gates of Jerusalem ; 20and say unto them , Hear ye the word of Jehovah , ye kings of Judah , and all Judah , and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem , that enter in by these gates : 21Thus saith Jehovah , Take heed to yourselves , and bear no burden on the sabbath day , nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem ; 22neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day , neither do ye any work : but hallow ye the sabbath day , as I commanded your fathers. 23But they hearkened not , neither inclined their ear , but made their neck stiff , that they might not hear , and might not receive instruction . 24And it shall come to pass , if ye diligently hearken unto me , saith Jehovah , to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day , but to hallow the sabbath day , to do no work therein; 25then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David , riding in chariots and on horses , they , and their princes , the men of Judah , and the inhabitants of Jerusalem ; and this city shall remain for ever . 26And they shall come from the cities of Judah , and from the places round about Jerusalem , and from the land of Benjamin , and from the lowland , and from the hill-country, and from the South , bringing burnt-offerings, and sacrifices , and meal-offerings, and frankincense , and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving , unto the house of Jehovah . 27But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day , and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day ; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof , and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem , and it shall not be quenched .