Judah’s Sin and Its Consequence

1The sin of Judah is engraved

with an iron stylus.

It is inscribed with a diamond point

on the tablet of their heart

and on the horns of theira altars.

2When their sons remember,

they remember their altarsb and their Asherah polesc

beside green trees on the high hills.

3My mountain in the field, your wealth and your treasures

I’ll give as spoil;

along with your high places as the price of your sin

throughout your territory.

4You will let go of your inheritance

which I gave you,

and I’ll make you serve your enemies

in a land that you don’t know.

For with my anger you have started a fire

that will burn forever.

Two Ways Contrasted

5This is what the LORD says:

“Cursed is the person who trusts in mankind,

who makes flesh his strength,

and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

6He will be like a bush in the desert,

and he won’t see when good comes.

He will dwell in parched places in the wilderness,d

a land of salt, without inhabitants.

7Blessed is the person who trusts in the LORD,

making the LORD his trust.

8He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by a stream.

He won’t fear when the heat comes,

and his leaves will be green.

In a year of drought he won’t be concerned,

nor will he stop producing fruit.”

The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart

9“The heart is more deceitful than anything.

It is incurable—

who can know it?

10I am the LORD who searches the heart,

who tests the inner depths

to give to each person

according to what he deserves,e

according to the fruit of his deeds.

11As a partridge gathers together eggs

that it didn’t lay,

so is a person who amasses wealth unjustly.

In the middle of his lifef it will leave him,

and in the end he will prove to be a fool.

The LORD: The Hope of Israel

12A glorious throne exalted from the beginning

is the place of our sanctuary.

13LORD, you are the hope of Israel;

all who forsake you will be put to shame.

Those who turn aside from youg will be

written in the dust,h

because they have forsaken the LORD,

the spring of living water.

The Prophet’s Call for Help and Justice

14Heal me, LORD, and I’ll be healed;

deliver me, and I’ll be delivered,

because you are my praise.

15Look, they’re saying to me,

“Where is the message from the LORD?

Let it come about!”

16I haven’t run away from being your shepherd,i

and I haven’t longed for the day of sickness.j

You know what comes out from my lips,

it’s open before you.k

17Don’t be a terror to me.

You are my refuge in a day of trouble.

18Let those who pursue me be put to shame,

but don’t put me to shame.

Let them be terrified,

but don’t let me be terrified.

Bring the day of judgmentl on them,

and destroy them with double destruction!

A Test Case: Keeping the Sabbath

19The LORD told me, “Go, stand in the gate of the people,m where the kings of Judah come in and go out, and in the other gates of Jerusalem as well. 20Say to them, ‘Kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the residents of Jerusalem entering these gates, hear this message from the LORD. 21This is what the LORD says: “Be careful! On the Sabbath day, don’t carry any load or bring anything through the gates of Jerusalem. 22Don’t bring any load out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor are you to do any work. You are to consecraten the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors. 23But they didn’t listen, nor did they pay attention.o They were determinedp not to listen and not to accept instruction.q 24If you listen to me carefully,” declares the LORD, “and don’t bring a load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and you consecrate the Sabbath day and don’t do any work on it, 25then kings and princes, sitting on the throne of David will come through the gates of this city. They, their princes, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem will come riding in chariots and on horses, and this city will be inhabited forever. 26They’ll come from the cities of Judah, from the places around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the Shephelah,r from the hill country, and from the Negev,s bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense, and bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD’s Temple. 27But if you don’t listen to me, to consecrate the Sabbath day and not carry any load as you enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I’ll start a fire in its gates. It will consume the palaces of Jerusalem and won’t be extinguished.”’”