Open English Translation JER Chapter 17

17 Yehudah’s sin is written with an iron stylus that has a diamond point.

It’s engraved on the tablet which is their hearts, and on the projecting corners of your altars.

2 Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles

that were beside the luxuriant trees and on the high hills—

3 even on my mountain in the countryside.

I’ll give your wealth and all your treasures to be plundered by others

because of your sin on your hilltop shrines throughout all your territories.

4 You’ll have to let go the inheritance that I gave you.

I’ll make your serve your enemies in a land that you’ve never been to,

because you’ve ignited a fire in my anger which will burn forever.

5 Yahweh says this:

Anyone who trusts in humankind will be cursed—

trusting in their own physical strength turns their hearts away from Yahweh.

6 They’re like shrubs in the desert, unable to see any good coming,

and they’ll live in dry parts of the wilderness

that’s salty and with no one else living there.

7 The person who trusts in Yahweh will be blessed,

as they put their confidence in him.

8 That person will be like a tree planted by a stream[ref]

that sends its roots out to the water.

It has nothing to fear when the heat comes and its leaves stay green.

It has nothing to be afraid of in a drought year

and it won’t stop producing fruit.

9 Human motives are the most deceitful of all.

They can’t be cured—who can determine them?

10 I am Yahweh who searches the mind.

I test the motives.

I give to everyone according to the results of their actions.[ref]

11 A partridge hatches an egg that it didn’t lay.

Someone might get rich by unjust means

but right in the middle of their life it’ll leave them

and in the end, that person will be a fool.

12 The place of our sanctuary from the beginning has been like a splendid throne on a high place.

13 You, Yahweh are the one that Yisrael puts their hope in.

All who abandon you will be put to shame.

≈ Those who turn away from you will be written on the ground,

because they’ve forsaken Yahweh—the fountain of living waters.

14 Heal me, Yahweh, and I’ll be healed.

Rescue me, and I’ll be rescued,

because you are the one I praise.

15 Listen, they’re asking me,

Where is Yahweh’s message? Let it come.

16 As for me, I didn’t run from being a shepherd following you.

I didn’t long for the day of disaster.

You know everything I said—it was said in your presence.

17 Don’t become a terror to me.

You’re my place of safety when disaster comes.

18 Let my pursuers be ashamed, but don’t let me be ashamed.

Ley them be dismayed, but don’t let me be dismayed.

Send the day of disaster against them

and shatter them with a double share of destruction.

19 Yahweh told me this:

Go and stand in at gate of the people where Yehudah’s kings come and go,

then in all the other gates of Yerushalem.

20 Tell the people:

Listen to Yahweh’s message, you kings of Yehudah and all you people of Yehudah,

and all of Yerushalem’s residents who go in through those gates.

21 Yahweh says this:

Be careful for the sake of your lives

and on the rest day, don’t carry a load to bring it to Yerushalem’s gates.[ref]

22 Don’t bring a load out from your homes on the rest day.

Don’t do any work, but set apart the rest day,

just as I instructed your ancestors to do.

23 They did not listen or pay attention,

but stubbornly refused to listen to me, nor did they accept discipline.

24 Yahweh declares that if you carefully listen to me

and don’t bring a load to this city’s gates on the rest day

but instead set apart the rest day for Yahweh, and don’t do any work on it,

25 then kings, princes, and those who sit on David’s throne

will come to this city’s gates in chariots and on horses.

They’ll come along with their leaders from Yehudah including Yerushalem’s residents,

and this city will be inhabited forever.

26 They’ll come from Yehudah’s cities including from all around Yerushalem,

from the Benyamin region and the foothills,

from the mountains, and from the Negev desert,

bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense,

as well as those who bring thank offerings to Yahweh’s residence.

27 But if you don’t listen to me

and don’t set apart the rest day

and don’t carry heavy loads to enter Yerushalem’s gates on the rest day,

then I’ll light a fire at its gates that will incinerate Yerushalem’s fortresses,

and that won’t be able to be put out.