A Short Introduction
The Letter of
Jeremiah, written around 200–150 BCE, is a short prophetic text often included
as Baruch chapter 6 in the Apocrypha. It is presented as a letter from Jeremiah
to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, warning them against idolatry. The letter
mocks false gods, describing them as lifeless statues made of wood, gold, and
silver that cannot speak, move, or save anyone. It urges the exiles to remain
faithful to the one true God, emphasizing that idols are powerless and unworthy
of worship.
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1. A copy of an
Epistle which Ieremie sent vnto them which were to be led captiues into
Babylon, by the king of the Babylonians, to certifie them as it was commanded
him of God.
2. Because of þe sinnes
which ye haue committed before God, ye shall be led away captiues vnto Babylon
by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.
3. So when ye
be come vnto Babylon, ye shal remaine there many yeeres, and for a long season,
namely seuen generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from
thence.
4. Now shal ye
see in Babylon gods of siluer, and of gold, and of wood, borne vpon shoulders,
which cause the nations to feare.
5. Beware
therefore that yee in no wise be like to strangers, neither be yee afraid of them,
when yee see the multitude before them, and behinde them, worshipping them.
6. But say yee
in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.
7. For mine
Angel is with you, and I my selfe caring for your soules.
8. As for their
tongue, it is polished by the workeman, and they themselues are guilded and
laid ouer with siluer, yet are they but false and cannot speake.
9. And taking
golde, as it were for a virgine that loues to go gay, they make crownes for the
heads of their gods.
10. Sometimes
also the Priests conuey from their gods golde and siluer, and bestow it vpon
themselues.
11. Yea they
will giue thereof to the common harlots, and decke them as men with
garments being gods of siluer, and gods of gold, and wood.
12. Yet cannot
these gods saue themselues from rust and moths, though they be couered with
purple raiment.
13. They wipe
their faces because of the dust of the Temple, when there is much vpon them.
14. And he that
cannot put to death one that offendeth him, holdeth a scepter as though hee
were a iudge of the countrey.
15. Hee hath
also in his right hand a dagger, and an axe: but cannot deliuer himselfe from
warre and theeues.
16. Whereby
they are knowen not to bee gods, therefore feare them not.
17. For like as
a vessell that a man vseth, is nothing worth when it is broken: euen so it is
with their gods: when they be set vp in the Temple, their eyes be full of dust,
thorow the feet of them that come in.
18. And as the
doores are made sure on euery side, vpon him that offendeth the king, as being
committed to suffer death: euen so the priests make fast their temples, with
doores, with lockes and barres, lest their gods bee spoiled with robbers.
19. They light
them candles, yea, more then for themselues, whereof they cannot see one.
20. They are as
one of the beames of the temple, yet they say, their hearts are gnawed vpon by
things creeping out of the earth, & when they eate them and their clothes,
they feele it not.
21. Their faces
are blacked, thorow the smoke that comes out of the temple.
22. Upon their
bodies and heads, sit battes, swallowes, and birds, and the cats also.
23. By this you
may know that they are no gods: therefore feare them not.
24. Notwithstanding
the gold that is about them, to make them beautifull, except they wipe off the
rust they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feele it.
25. The things
wherein there is no breath, are bought for a most hie price.
26. They are
borne vpon shoulders, hauing no feete, whereby they declare vnto men that they
be nothing worth.
27. They also
that serue them, are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they
cannot rise vp againe of themselues: neither if one set them upright can they
moue of themselues: neither if they be bowed downe, can they make themselues
streight: but they set gifts before them as vnto dead men.
28. As for the
things that are sacrificed vnto them, their priests sell and abuse: in like
maner their wiues lay vp part thereof in salt: but vnto the poore and impotent,
they giue nothing of it.
29. Menstruous
women, and women in childbed eate their sacrifices: by these things ye may know
that they are no gods: feare them not.
30. For how can
they be called gods? because women set meate before the gods of siluer, gold,
and wood.
31. And the
priests sit in their temples, hauing their clothes rent, and their heads and
beards shauen, and nothing vpon their heads.
32. They roare
and crie before their gods: as men doe at the feast when one is dead.
33. The
priestes also take off their garments, and clothe their wiues and children.
34. Whether it
be euill that one doth vnto them, or good: they are not able to recompense it:
they can neither set vp a king, nor put him downe.
35. In like
maner, they can neither giue riches nor money: though a man make a vowe vnto
them, and keepe it not, they will not require it.
36. They can
saue no man from death, neither deliuer the weake from the mightie.
37. They cannot
restore a blind man to his sight, nor helpe any man in his distresse.
38. They can
shew no mercie to the widow: nor doe good to the fatherlesse.
39. Their gods
of wood, and which are ouerlaid with gold, and siluer, are like the stones that
be hewen out of the mountaine: they that worship them shall be confounded.
40. How should
a man then thinke and say that they are gods? when euen the Chaldeans thēselues
dishonor them.
41. Who if they
shall see one dumbe that cannot speake, they bring him and intreate Bel that he
may speake, as though he were able to vnderstand.
42. Yet they
cannot vnderstand this themselues, and leaue them: for they haue no knowledge.
43. The women
also with cordes aboue them, sitting in the wayes, burne branne for perfume:
but if any of them drawen by some that passeth by, lie with him, she
reproacheth her fellow that she was not thought as worthy as her selfe, nor her
cord broken.
44. Whatsoeuer
is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are
gods?
45. They are
made of carpenters, and goldsmiths, they can be nothing else, then the workman
will haue them to be.
46. And they
themselues that made them, can neuer continue long, how should then the things
that are made of them, be gods?
47. For they
left lies and reproaches to them that come after.
48. For when
there commeth any warre or plague vpon them, the priests consult with
themselues, where they may be hidden with them.
49. How then
cannot men perceiue, that they be no gods, which can neither saue themselues
from warre nor from plague?
50. For seeing
they be but of wood, and ouerlaide with siluer and gold: it shall be knowen
heereafter that they are false.
51. And it
shall manifestly appeare to all nations and kings, that they are no gods: but
the workes of mens hands, and that there is no worke of God in them.
52. Who then
may not know that they are no gods?
53. For neither
can they set vp a king in the land, nor giue raine vnto men.
54. Neither can
they iudge their owne cause, nor redresse a wrong being vnable: for they are as
crowes between heauen and earth.
55. Whereupon
when fire falleth vpon the house of gods of wood, or layd ouer with gold or
siluer, their priests will fly away, & escape: but they themselues shall be
burnt asunder like beames.
56. Moreouer
they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said
that they be gods?
57. Neither are
those gods of wood, and layd ouer with siluer or gold able to escape either
from theeues or robbers.
58. Whose gold,
and siluer, and garments wherwith they are clothed, they that are strong doe
take, and goe away withall: neither are they able to helpe themselues.
59 Therefore it
is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessell in
an house, which the owner shall haue vse of, then such false gods: or to be a
doore in an house to keepe such things safe as be therein, then such false
gods: or a pillar of wood in a palace, then such false gods.
60. For Sunne,
Moone, and starres, being bright and sent to doe their offices, are obedient.
61. In like
maner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easie to bee seene, and after the
same maner the wind bloweth in euery country.
62. And when
God commandeth the clouds to goe ouer the whole world: they doe as they are
bidden:
63. And the
fire sent from aboue to consume hilles and woods, doth as it is commanded: but
these are like vnto them neither in shew, nor power.
64. Wherefore
it is neither to be supposed nor said, that they are gods, seeing they are
able, neither to iudge causes, nor to doe good vnto men.
65. Knowing
therefore that they are no gods, feare them not.
66. For they
can neither curse nor blesse kings.
67. Neither can
they signes in the heauens among the heathen: nor shine as the Sunne, nor giue
light as the Moone.
68. The beasts
are better then they: for they can get vnder a couert, and helpe themselues.
69. It is then
by no meanes manifest vnto vs that they are gods: therefore feare them not.
70. For as a
scarcrow in a garden of Cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood,
and laid ouer with siluer and gold.
71. And
likewise their gods of wood, and laid ouer with siluer and gold, are like to a
white thorne in an orchard that euery bird sitteth vpon: as also to a dead
body, that is cast into the darke.
72. And you
shall know them to be no gods, by the bright purple that rotteth vpon them: and
they themselues afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the
country.
73. Better
therefore is the iust man that hath none idoles: for he shall be farre from
reproach.
Here ends
the Letter of Jeremiah.
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