1The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron , and with the point of a diamond : it is graven upon the table of their heart , and upon the horns of your altars ; 2Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills . 3O my mountain in the field , I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil , and thy high places for sin , throughout all thy borders . 4And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine 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 the LORD ; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man , and maketh flesh his arm , and whose heart departeth from the LORD . 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 , in a salt land and not inhabited . 7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD , and whose hope the LORD is. 8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters , and that spreadeth out her roots by the river , and shall not see when heat cometh , but her 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 desperately wicked : who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart , I try the reins , even to give every man according to his ways , and according to the fruit of his doings .
The Coming Judgment and Hope for Restoration
11As the partridge sitteth on eggs , and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches , and not by right , shall leave them in the midst of his days , and at his end shall be a fool . 12A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary . 13O LORD , the hope of Israel , all that forsake thee shall be ashamed , and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth , because they have forsaken the LORD , the fountain of living waters . 14Heal me, O LORD , 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 the LORD ? let it come now. 16As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day ; thou knowest : that which came out of my lips was right before thee . 17Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil . 18Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded : 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 the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people , whereby the kings of Judah come in , and by the which they go out , and in all the gates of Jerusalem ; 20And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD , ye kings of Judah , and all Judah , and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem , that enter in by these gates : 21Thus saith the LORD ; 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 obeyed not, neither inclined their ear , but made their neck stiff , that they might not hear , nor receive instruction . 24And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD , to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day , but hallow the sabbath day , to do no work therein; 25Then shall there enter into 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 about Jerusalem , and from the land of Benjamin , and from the plain , and from the mountains , and from the south , bringing burnt offerings , and sacrifices , and meat offerings , and incense , and bringing sacrifices of praise , unto the house of the LORD . 27But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day , and not to bear a burden , even entering 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 .