Yeremya’nın Mektubu 1

¹Babillilerin kralı tarafından Babil'e sürgün edilecek olan esirlere, Tanrı'nın kendisine buyurduğu şeyleri bildirmek üzere Yeremya'nın gönderdiği mektubun bir suretidir: Tanrı'ya karşı işlediğiniz günahlardan ötürü, Babillilerin kralı Nebukadnessar tarafından Babil'e esir olarak götürüleceksiniz.

²Babil'e vardığınızda, orada uzun yıllar ve uzun bir süre, yedi kuşak boyunca kalacaksınız; ondan sonra sizi oradan esenlikle çıkaracağım.

³Şimdi Babil'de omuzlarda taşınan, uluslara korku sergileyen gümüşten, altından ve ahşaptan tanrılar göreceksiniz.

⁴Bu yüzden sakının ki siz de yabancılara benzeyerek onlara uymayasınız ve onlardan ötürü üzerinize bir korku çökmesin;

⁵onların önünde ve arkasında onlara tapınan kalabalığı gördüğünüzde zihninizden şöyle deyin: "Sana tapınmak gerekir, ey Efendi."

⁶Çünkü meleğim sizinledir ve o sizin canlarınızın hesabını sorup onları gözetmektedir.

⁷Çünkü dilleri bir marangoz tarafından törpülenmiştir; kendileri altın ve gümüşle kaplanmıştır, ama sahtedirler ve konuşamazlar.

⁸Süslenmeyi seven bir bakireye yapar gibi altın alıp tanrılarının başlarına taçlar yaparlar.

⁹Bazen de rahipler tanrılarından altın ve gümüşü gizlice çalıp kendileri için harcarlar; hatta bunlardan çatı katlarındaki fahişelere bile verirler.

¹⁰Gümüş, altın ve ahşap tanrıları, insanlarmış gibi giysilerle süslerler; oysa bu tanrılar pastan ve kemirici haşerelerden kendilerini kurtaramazlar.

¹¹Üzerlerine erguvani giysiler giydirilmiş olsa da, tapınaktaki yoğun toz yüzünden yüzlerini silerler, çünkü üzerlerinde çok fazla toz birikir.

¹²Bir bölgenin yargıcı olan bir insan gibi asa tutar, ama kendisine karşı suç işleyeni ortadan kaldıramaz.

¹³Sağ elinde bir hançer ve bir balta tutar, ama kendini savaştan ve haydutlardan çekip çıkaramaz.

¹⁴Buradan onların tanrı olmadıkları aşikar olur; bu yüzden onlardan korkmayın.

¹⁵Çünkü bir insanın kullandığı kap kırıldığında nasıl işe yaramaz hale gelirse, tapınaklarına yerleştirilen tanrıları da öyledir.

¹⁶İçeri girenlerin ayaklarından kalkan toz yüzünden gözleri tozla dolar.

¹⁷Krala karşı suç işlemiş ve ölüme götürülen birinin etrafındaki avlular nasıl kapatılırsa, rahipler de tanrıları haydutlar tarafından yağmalanmasın diye tapınaklarını kapılarla, kilitlerle ve sürgülerle güvenceye alırlar.

¹⁸Kendileri için yaktıklarından daha fazla kandil yakarlar, oysa tanrılar bunlardan hiçbirini göremez.

¹⁹Tapınağın kirişleri gibidirler; topraktan çıkan sürüngenler kendilerini ve giysilerini yiyip bitirirken yüreklerinin kemirildiğini söylerler de onlar bunu hissetmezler.

²⁰Tapınaktan çıkan duman yüzünden yüzleri kapkara kesilir.

²¹Bedenlerinin ve başlarının üzerine yarasalar, kırlangıçlar, kuşlar ve hatta kediler konar.

²²Buradan onların tanrı olmadıklarını anlayacaksınız; bu yüzden onlardan korkmayın.

²³Güzellik olsun diye kaplandıkları altınların pası silinmedikçe parlamazlar; çünkü eritilip döküldükleri zaman bile hiçbir şey hissetmediler.

²⁴İçlerinde yaşam soluğu olmayan bu şeyler çok yüksek fiyatlara satın alınır.

²⁵Ayakları olmadığı için omuzlarda taşınırlar ve böylece insanlara kendi değersizliklerini sergilerler; onlara kulluk edenler de utanırlar.

²⁶Çünkü yere düşerlerse kendi başlarına ayağa kalkamazlar; biri onları dik koysa bile kendi kendilerine hareket edemezler, eğilirlerse doğrultulamazlar; onlara sunulan adaklar ölülere sunulan sunular gibidir.

²⁷Rahipleri onlara sunulan kurbanları satıp kendi çıkarları için kullanırlar; aynı şekilde karıları da bu etleri tuzlayıp saklar, ama yoksula ya da düşküne hiçbir şey vermezler.

²⁸Onların kurbanlarına âdet gören kadınlar ve lohusalar dokunur. Bunlardan onların tanrı olmadığını anlayın ve onlardan korkmayın.

²⁹Onlara nasıl tanrı denebilir ki? Çünkü gümüş, altın ve ahşap tanrıların önüne sunuları kadınlar koyuyor.

³⁰Tapınaklarında rahipler, giysileri yırtık, başları ve sakalları tıraş edilmiş, başları açık bir halde otururlar.

³¹Tanrılarının önünde, bir ölünün ardından düzenlenen yas yemeğindeymiş gibi feryat edip bağrışırlar.

³²Rahipler onların giysilerini çıkarıp kendi karılarını ve çocuklarını giydirirler.

³³Birisi onlara kötülük ya da iyilik yapsa bile karşılık veremezler; ne bir kral tahta çıkarabilirler ne de tahttan indirebilirler.

³⁴Aynı şekilde ne zenginlik ne de para verebilirler; biri onlara bir adak adayıp da yerine getirmezse, bunun hesabını asla sormazlar.

³⁵Hiç kimseyi ölümden kurtaramazlar, zayıfı güçlünün elinden çekip alamazlar.

³⁶Kör bir insanın gözlerini açamazlar, darda kalan bir insanı kurtaramazlar.

³⁷Dula merhamet etmezler, öksüze iyilik yapmazlar.

³⁸Ahşap, altın ve gümüş kaplama tanrıları dağdan yontulmuş taşlar gibidir; onlara kulluk edenler utanç içinde kalacaktır.

³⁹Öyleyse onların tanrı olduğu nasıl düşünülebilir ya da söylenebilir?

⁴⁰Kaldeliler bile onlara saygısızlık ederken bu nasıl olur? Çünkü konuşamayan dilsiz birini gördüklerinde, sanki anlayabilirmiş gibi onu Bel'in önüne getirip konuşturmasını isterler.

⁴¹Kendileri de bunu anlayıp o tanrıları terk edemezler, çünkü akılları yoktur.

⁴²Kadınlar da bellerine ipler bağlayıp yollarda oturur ve kepek yakarak buhur sunarlar.

⁴³Yoldan geçenlerden biri bunlardan birini çekip onunla yattığında, o kadın yanındakini kendisi kadar değerli bulunmadığı ve ipi koparılmadığı için aşağılar.

⁴⁴Onların arasında yapılan her şey sahtedir; öyleyse onların tanrı olduğu nasıl düşünülebilir ya da söylenebilir?

⁴⁵Marangozlar ve kuyumcular tarafından yapılmışlardır; ustalar onların ne olmasını istemişse ondan başka bir şey olamazlar.

⁴⁶Onları yapanların kendileri bile uzun ömürlü olamazken,

⁴⁷onların ellerinden çıkan şeyler nasıl tanrı olabilir? Gelecek kuşaklara sadece yalan ve utanç bıraktılar.

⁴⁸Çünkü üzerlerine savaş ve felaketler geldiğinde, rahipler onlarla birlikte nereye gizleneceklerini kendi aralarında tartışırlar.

⁴⁹Kendilerini ne savaştan ne de felaketlerden kurtarabilen bu şeylerin tanrı olmadığını anlamak nasıl mümkün olmaz?

⁵⁰Ahşap, altın ve gümüş kaplama olduklarından, gelecekte bunların sahte olduğu anlaşılacaktır; tüm uluslar ve krallar için onların tanrı olmadığı, insan elinin işi olduğu ve içlerinde Tanrı'nın hiçbir işinin bulunmadığı açıkça görülecektir.

⁵¹Öyleyse onların tanrı olmadığını bilmeyecek kimse var mıdır?

⁵²Çünkü bir ülkeye ne bir kral atayabilirler ne de insanlara yağmur verebilirler.

⁵³Kendi davalarını çözemezler, haksızlığa uğrayanı kurtaramazlar, çünkü çaresizdirler; gökle yer arasındaki kargalar gibidirler.

⁵⁴Ahşap, altın ya da gümüş kaplama tanrıların tapınağına yangın düştüğünde, rahipleri kaçıp kurtulur, ama kendileri ortadaki kirişler gibi yanıp kül olurlar.

⁵⁵Bir krala ya da düşman ordusuna karşı koyamazlar.

⁵⁶Öyleyse onların tanrı olduğu nasıl kabul edilebilir ya da düşünülebilir? Bu ahşap, gümüş ve altın kaplama tanrılar kendilerini hırsızlardan ve haydutlardan bile koruyamazlar.

⁵⁷Güçlü olanlar onların üzerindeki altını, gümüşü ve giysileri söküp alıp götürürler; kendilerine bile yardım edemezler.

⁵⁸Bu yüzden, kendi gücünü gösteren bir kral olmak ya da sahibinin işine yarayan evdeki kullanışlı bir kap olmak bu sahte tanrılardan daha iyidir; yahut içindekileri koruyan bir ev kapısı olmak bu sahte tanrılardan daha iyidir; ya da bir saraydaki ahşap sütun olmak bu sahte tanrılardan daha iyidir.

⁵⁹Çünkü güneş, ay ve yıldızlar parlaktır ve bir görev için gönderildiklerinde söz dinlerler.

⁶⁰Aynı şekilde şimşek de çaktığında kolayca görülür; rüzgâr da her ülkede aynı şekilde eser.

⁶¹Tanrı bulutlara bütün yeryüzünün üzerinde süzülmelerini buyurduğunda, kendilerine verilen görevi yerine getirirler; dağları ve ormanları yakıp yok etmek için yukarıdan gönderilen ateş de buyrulduğu gibi yapar.

⁶²Oysa bu tanrılar ne görünüş ne de güç bakımından bunlara benzer.

⁶³Bu yüzden onların tanrı olduğu ne düşünülmeli ne de söylenmelidir; çünkü ne bir davayı yargılayabilirler ne de insanlara bir iyilik yapabilirler.

⁶⁴Öyleyse onların tanrı olmadığını bilerek onlardan korkmayın.

⁶⁵Çünkü kralları ne lanetleyebilirler ne de kutsayabilirler.

⁶⁶Uluslara gökyüzünde belirtiler gösteremezler, ne güneş gibi parlayabilirler ne de ay gibi ışık verebilirler.

⁶⁷Yabanıl hayvanlar bile onlardan üstündür; çünkü bir sığınağa kaçıp kendilerine fayda sağlayabilirler.

⁶⁸Dolayısıyla onların tanrı olduğu bizim için hiçbir şekilde açık değildir; bu yüzden onlardan korkmayın.

⁶⁹Çünkü bir hıyar tarlasındaki hiçbir şeyi korumayan korkuluk neyse, onların ahşap, altın ve gümüş kaplama tanrıları da öyledir.

⁷⁰Aynı şekilde, onların ahşap, altın ve gümüş kaplama tanrıları, üzerine her türlü kuşun konduğu bahçedeki bir akdiken çalısına ya da karanlığa atılmış bir ölüye benzer.

⁷¹Üzerlerinde çürüyen erguvani kumaştan ve parlak kaplamadan onların tanrı olmadığı anlaşılacaktır; sonunda kendileri de kemirilecek ve ülkede bir utanç kaynağı olacaklardır.

⁷²Bu yüzden, putları olmayan doğru kişi daha iyidir; çünkü o, utançtan uzak olacaktır.

¹ΑΝΤΙΓΡΑΦΟΝ ἐπιστολῆς, ἧς ἀπέστειλεν ῾Ιερεμίας πρὸς τοὺς ἀχθησομένους αἰχμαλώτους εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως τῶν Βαβυλωνίων ἀναγγεῖλαι αὐτοῖς καθότι ἐπετάγη αὐτῷ ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ. -

¹Διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας, ἃς ἡμαρτήκατε ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀχθήσεσθε εἰς Βαβυλῶνα αἰχμάλωτοι ὑπὸ Ναβουχοδονόσορ βασιλέως τῶν Βαβυλωνίων

²εἰσελθόντες οὖν εἰς Βαβυλῶνα ἔσεσθε ἐκεῖ ἔτη πλείονα καὶ χρόνον μακρὸν ἕως γενεῶν ἑπτά· μετὰ τοῦτο δὲ ἐξάξω ὑμᾶς ἐκεῖθεν μετ’ εἰρήνης.

³νυνὶ δὲ ὄψεσθε ἐν Βαβυλῶνι θεοὺς ἀργυροῦς καὶ χρυσοῦς καὶ ξυλίνους ἐπ’ ὤμοις αἰρομένους, δεικνύντας φόβον τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.

⁴εὐλαβήθητε οὖν μὴ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀφομοιωθέντες τοῖς ἀλλοφύλοις ἀφομοιωθῆτε καὶ φόβος ὑμᾶς λάβῃ ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς

⁵ἰδόντας ὄχλον ἔμπροσθεν καὶ ὄπισθεν αὐτῶν προσκυνοῦντας αὐτά· εἴπατε δὲ τῇ διανοίᾳ· σοὶ δεῖ προσκυνεῖν, δέσποτα.

⁶ὁ γὰρ ἄγγελός μου μεθ’ ὑμῶν ἐστιν, αὐτός τε ἐκζητῶν τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν.

⁷γλῶσσα γὰρ αὐτῶν ἐστι κετεξυσμένη ὑπὸ τέκτονος, αὐτά τε περίχρυσα καὶ περιάργυρα, ψευδῆ δ’ ἐστὶ καὶ οὐ δύνανται λαλεῖν.

⁸καὶ ὥσπερ παρθένῳ φιλοκόσμῳ λαμβάνοντες χρυσίον κατασκευάζουσι στεφάνους ἐπὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν·

⁹ἔστι δὲ καὶ ὅτε ὑφαιρούμενοι οἱ ἱερεῖς ἀπὸ τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν χρυσίον καὶ ἀργύριον εἰς ἑαυτοὺς καταναλώσουσι, δώσουσι δὲ ἀπ’ αὐτῶν καὶ ταῖς ἐπὶ τοῦ στέγους πόρναις.

¹⁰κοσμοῦσί τε αὐτοὺς ὡς ἀνθρώπους τοῖς ἐνδύμασι, θεοὺς ἀργυροῦς καὶ θεοὺς χρυσοῦς καὶ ξυλίνους· οὗτοι δὲ οὐ διασῴζονται ἀπὸ ἰοῦ καὶ βρωμάτων.

¹¹περιβεβλημένων αὐτῶν ἱματισμὸν πορφυροῦν, ἐκμάσσονται τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν διὰ τὸν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας κονιορτόν, ὅς ἐστι πλείω ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς.

¹²καὶ σκῆπτρον ἔχει ὡς ἄνθρωπος κριτὴς χώρας, ὃς τὸν εἰς αὐτὸν ἁμαρτάνοντα οὐκ ἀνελεῖ.

¹³ἔχει δὲ ἐγχειρίδιον ἐν δεξιᾷ καὶ πέλεκυν, ἑαυτὸν δὲ ἐκ πολέμου καὶ λῃστῶν οὐκ ἐξελεῖται.

¹⁴ὅθεν γνώριμοί εἰσιν οὐκ ὄντες θεοί· μὴ οὖν φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς. -

¹⁵῞Ωσπερ γὰρ σκεῦος ἀνθρώπου συντριβὲν ἀχρεῖον γίνεται, τοιοῦτοι ὑπάρχουσιν οἱ θεοὶ αὐτῶν, καθιδρυμένων αὐτῶν ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις.

¹⁶οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτῶν πλήρεις εἰσὶ κονιορτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ποδῶν τῶν εἰσπορευομένων.

¹⁷καὶ ὥσπερ τινὶ ἠδικηκότι βασιλέα περιπεφραγμέναι εἰσὶν αἱ αὐλαί, ὡς ἐπὶ θανάτῳ ἀπηγμένῳ, τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν ὀχυροῦσιν οἱ ἱερεῖς θυρώμασί τε καὶ κλείθροις καὶ μοχλοῖς, ὅπως ὑπὸ τῶν λῃστῶν μὴ συληθῶσι.

¹⁸λύχνους καίουσι καὶ πλείους ἢ ἑαυτοῖς, ὧν οὐδένα δύνανται ἰδεῖν.

¹⁹ἔστι μὲν ὥσπερ δοκὸς τῶν ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας, τὰς δὲ καρδίας αὐτῶν φασὶν ἐκλείχεσθαι, τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἑρπετῶν κατεσθόντων αὐτούς τε καὶ τὸν ἱματισμὸν αὐτῶν, οὐκ αἰσθάνονται.

²⁰μεμελανωμένοι τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ καπνοῦ τοῦ ἐκ τῆς οἰκίας.

²¹ἐπὶ τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῶν ἐφίπτανται νυκτερίδες, χελιδόνες καὶ τὰ ὄρνεα, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ οἱ αἴλουροι.

²²ὅθεν γνώσεσθε ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί· μὴ οὖν φοβεῖσθε αὐτά. -

²³Τὸ γὰρ χρυσίον, ὃ περίκεινται εἰς κάλλος, ἐὰν μή τις ἐκμάξῃ τὸν ἰόν, οὐ μὴ στίλψωσιν· οὐδὲ γάρ, ὅτε ἐχωνεύοντο, ᾐσθάνοντο.

²⁴ἐκ πάσης τιμῆς ἠγορασμένα ἐστίν, ἐν οἷς οὐκ ἔστι πνεῦμα.

²⁵ἄνευ ποδῶν ἐπ’ ὤμοις φέρονται ἐνδεικνύμενοι τὴν ἑαυτῶν ἀτιμίαν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, αἰσχύνονταί τε καὶ οἱ θεραπεύοντες αὐτὰ

²⁶διὰ τὸ εἴ ποτε ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν πέσῃ, μὴ δι’ αὐτῶν ἀνίστασθαι· μήτε ἐάν τις αὐτὸ ὀρθὸν στήσῃ, δι’ ἑαυτοῦ κινηθήσεται, μήτε ἐὰν κλιθῇ, οὐ μὴ ὀρθωθῇ, ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ νεκροῖς τὰ δῶρα αὐτοῖς παρατίθεται.

²⁷τὰς δὲ θυσίας αὐτῶν ἀποδόμενοι οἱ ἱερεῖς αὐτῶν καταχρῶνται· ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ταριχεύουσαι οὔτε πτωχῷ οὔτε ἀδυνάτῳ μὴ μεταδῶσι.

²⁸τῶν θυσιῶν αὐτῶν ἀποκαθημένη καὶ λεχὼ ἅπτονται. γνόντες οὖν ἀπὸ τούτων ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί, μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς. -

²⁹Πόθεν γὰρ κληθείησαν θεοί; ὅτι γυναῖκες παρατιθέασι θεοῖς ἀργυροῖς καὶ χρυσοῖς καὶ ξυλίνοις·

³⁰καὶ ἐν τοῖς οἴκοις αὐτῶν οἱ ἱερεῖς διφρεύουσιν, ἔχοντες τοὺς χιτῶνας διερρωγότας καὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς καὶ τοὺς πώγωνας ἐξυρημένους, ὧν αἱ κεφαλαὶ ἀκάλυπτοί εἰσιν,

³¹ὠρύονται δὲ βοῶντες ἐναντίον τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν ὥσπερ τινὲς ἐν περιδείπνῳ νεκροῦ.

³²ἀπὸ τοῦ ἱματισμοῦ αὐτῶν ἀφελόμενοι οἱ ἱερεῖς ἐνδύσουσι τὰς γυναῖκας αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ παιδία.

³³οὔτε ἐὰν κακὸν πάθωσιν ὑπό τινος οὔτε ἐὰν ἀγαθόν, δυνήσονται ἀνταποδοῦναι· οὔτε καταστῆσαι βασιλέα δύνανται οὔτε ἀφελέσθαι.

³⁴ὡσαύτως οὔτε πλοῦτον οὔτε χαλκὸν οὐ μὴ δύνωνται διδόναι· ἐάν τις εὐχὴν αὐτοῖς εὐξάμενος μὴ ἀποδῷ, οὐ μὴ ἐπιζητήσωσιν.

³⁵ἐκ θανάτου ἄνθρωπον οὐ μὴ ῥύσωνται οὔτε ἥττονα ἀπὸ ἰσχυροῦ μὴ ἐξέλωνται.

³⁶ἄνθρωπον τυφλὸν εἰς ὅρασιν οὐ μὴ περιστήσωσιν, ἐν ἀνάγκῃ ἄνθρωπον ὄντα οὐ μὴ ἐξέλωνται.

³⁷χήραν οὐ μὴ ἐλεήσωσιν οὔτε ὀρφανὸν εὖ ποιήσωσι.

³⁸τοῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους λίθοις ὡμοιωμένοι εἰσὶ τὰ ξύλινα καὶ τὰ περίχρυσα καὶ τὰ περιάργυρα, οἱ δὲ θεραπεύοντες αὐτὰ καταισχυνθήσονται.

³⁹πῶς οὖν νομιστέον ἢ κλητέον ὑπάρχειν αὐτοὺς θεούς;

⁴⁰ἔτι δὲ καὶ αὐτῶν τῶν Χαλδαίων ἀτιμαζόντων αὐτά, οἵ, ὅταν ἴδωσιν ἐνεὸν μὴ δυνάμενον λαλῆσαι, προσενεγκάμενοι τὸν Βῆλον ἀξιοῦσι φωνῆσαι, ὡς δυνατοῦ ὄντος αὐτοῦ αἰσθέσθαι,

⁴¹καὶ οὐ δύνανται αὐτοὶ νοήσαντες καταλιπεῖν αὐτά, αἴσθησιν γὰρ οὐκ ἔχουσιν.

⁴²αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες περιθέμεναι σχοινία ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς ἐγκάθηνται θυμιῶσαι τὰ πίτυρα·

⁴³ὅταν δέ τις αὐτῶν ἐφελκυσθεῖσα ὑπό τινος τῶν παραπορευομένων κοιμηθῇ, τὴν πλησίον ὀνειδίζει, ὅτι οὐκ ἠξίωται ὥσπερ καὶ αὐτὴ οὔτε τὸ σχοινίον αὐτῆς διερράγη.

⁴⁴πάντα τὰ γενόμενα ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐστι ψευδῆ· πῶς οὖν νομιστέον ἢ κλητέον ὡς θεοὺς αὐτοὺς ὑπάρχειν;

⁴⁵ὐπὸ τεκτόνων καὶ χρυσοχόων κατεσκευασμένα εἰσίν· οὐδὲν ἄλλο μὴ γένωνται ἢ ὃ βούλονται οἱ τεχνῖται αὐτὰ γενέσθαι.

⁴⁶αὐτοί τε οἱ κατασκευάζοντες αὐτὰ οὐ μὴ γένωνται πολυχρόνιοι·

⁴⁷πῶς τε δὴ μέλλει τὰ ὑπ’ αὐτῶν κατασκευασθέντα εἶναι θεοί; κατέλιπον γὰρ ψεύδη καὶ ὄνειδος τοῖς ἐπιγινομένοις.

⁴⁸ὅταν γὰρ ἐπέλθῃ ἐπ’ αὐτὰ πόλεμος καὶ κακά, βουλεύονται πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς οἱ ἱερεῖς ποῦ συναποκρυβῶσι μετ’ αὐτῶν.

⁴⁹πῶς οὖν οὐκ ἔστιν αἰσθέσθαι ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί, οἳ οὔτε σῴζουσιν ἑαυτοὺς ἐκ πολέμου οὔτε ἐκ κακῶν;

⁵⁰ὑπάρχοντα γὰρ ξύλινα καὶ περίχρυσα καὶ περιάργυρα γνωσθήσεται μετὰ ταῦτα, ὅτι ἐστὶ ψευδῆ· τοῖς ἔθνεσι πᾶσι τοῖς τε βασιλεῦσι φανερὸν ἔσται, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί, ἀλλὰ ἔργα χειρῶν ἀνθρώπων, καὶ οὐδὲν Θεοῦ ἔργον ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐστι.

⁵¹τίνι οὖν γνωστέον ἐστίν, ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί;

⁵²βασιλέα γὰρ χώρας οὐ μὴ ἀναστήσωσιν οὔτε ὑετὸν ἀνθρώποις οὐ μὴ δῶσι,

⁵³κρίσιν τε οὐ μὴ διακρίνωσιν αὐτῶν, οὐδὲ μὴ ρύσωνται ἀδικούμενον ἀδύνατοι ὄντες· ὥσπερ γὰρ κορῶναι ἀναμέσον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ τῆς γῆς.

⁵⁴καὶ γὰρ ὅταν ἐμπέσῃ εἰς οἰκίαν θεῶν ξυλίων ἢ περιχεύσων ἢ περιαργύρων πῦρ, οἱ μὲν ἱερεῖς αὐτῶν φεύξονται καὶ διασωθήσονται, αὐτοὶ δὲ ὥσπερ δοκοὶ μέσοι κατακαυθήσονται.

⁵⁵βασιλεῖ δὲ καὶ πολεμίοις οὐ μὴ ἀντιστῶσι.

⁵⁶πῶς οὖν ἐκδεκτέον ἢ νομιστέον ὅτι εἰσὶ θεοί; οὔτε ἀπὸ κλεπτῶν οὔτε ἀπὸ λῃστῶν οὐ μὴ διασωθῶσι θεοὶ ξύλινοι καὶ περιάργυροι καὶ περίχρυσοι,

⁵⁷ὧν οἱ ἰσχύοντες περιελοῦνται τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον, καὶ τὸν ἱματισμὸν τὸν περικείμενον αὐτοῖς ἀπελεύσονται ἔχοντες, οὔτε ἑαυτοῖς οὐ μὴ βοηθήσωσιν·

⁵⁸ὥστε κρεῖσσον εἶναι βασιλέα ἐπιδεικνύμενον τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀνδρείαν ἢ σκεῦος ἐν οἰκίᾳ χρήσιμον, ἐφ’ ᾣ χρήσεται ὁ κεκτημένος, ἢ οἱ ψευδεῖς θεοί· ἢ καὶ θύρα ἐν οἰκίᾳ διασῴζουσα τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ὄντα ἢ ψευδεῖς θεοί· καὶ ξύλινος στύλος ἐν βασιλείοις ἢ οἱ ψευδεῖς θεοί.

⁵⁹ἥλιος μὲν γὰρ καὶ σελήνη καὶ ἄστρα ὄντα λαμπρὰ καὶ ἀποστελλόμενα ἐπὶ χρείας εὐήκοά εἰσιν·

⁶⁰ὡσαύτως καὶ ἀστραπή, ὅταν ἐπιφανῇ, εὔοπτός ἐστι, τὸ δ’ αὐτὸ καὶ πνεῦμα ἐν πάσῃ χώρᾳ πνεῖ.

⁶¹καὶνεφέλαις ὅταν ἐπιταγῇ ὑπὸ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐπιπορεύεσθαι ἐφ’ ὅλην τὴν οἰκουμένην, συντελοῦσι τὸ ταχθέν· τό τε πῦρ ἐξαποσταλὲν ἄνωθεν ἐξαναλῶσαι ὄρη καὶ δρυμούς, ποιεῖ τὸ συνταχθέν.

⁶²ταῦτα δὲ οὔτε ταῖς ἰδέαις οὔτε ταῖς δυνάμεσιν αὐτῶν ἀφωμοιωμένα ἐστίν.

⁶³ὅθεν οὔτε νομιστέον οὔτε κλητέον ὑπάρχειν αὐτοὺς θεούς, οὐ δυνατῶν ὄντων αὐτῶν οὔτε κρίσιν κρῖναι οὔτε εὖ ποιῆσαι ἀνθρώποις.

⁶⁴γνόντες οὖν ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί, μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς·

⁶⁵οὔτε γὰρ βασιλεῦσιν οὐ μὴ καταράσωνται οὔτε μὴ εὐλογήσωσι.

⁶⁶σημεῖά τε ἐν ἔθνεσιν ἐν οὐρανῷ οὐ μὴ δείξωσιν, οὐδὲ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος λάμψουσιν οὐδὲ φωτιοῦσιν ὡς ἡ σελήνη.

⁶⁷τὰ θηρία ἐστὶκρείττῳ αὐτῶν, ἃ δύνανται ἐκφυγόντα εἰς σκέπην ἑαυτὰ ὠφελῆσαι.

⁶⁸κατ’ οὐδένα οὖν τρόπον ἡμῖν ἐστι φανερὸν ὅτι εἰσὶ θεοί. διὸ μὴ φοβηθῆτε αὐτούς·

⁶⁹ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν σικυηράτῳ προβασκάνιον οὐδὲν φυλάσσον, οὕτως οἱ θεοὶ αὐτῶν εἰσὶ ξύλινοι καὶ περίχρυσοι καὶ περιάργυροι.

⁷⁰τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον καὶ τῇ ἐν κήπῳ ράμνῳ, ἐφ’ ἧς πᾶν ὄρνεον ἐπικάθηται, ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ νεκρῷ ἐρριμμένῳ ἐν σκότει ἀφωμοίωνται οἱ θεοὶ αὐτῶν ξύλινοι καὶ περίχρυσοι καὶ περιάργυροι.

⁷¹ἀπό τε τῆς πορφύρας καὶ τῆς μαρμάρου τῆς ἐπ’ αὐτοῖς σηπομένης γνωσθήσονται ὅτι οὐκ εἰσὶ θεοί· αὐτά τε ἐξ ὑστέρου βρωθήσονται, καὶ ἔσται ὄνειδος ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ.

⁷²κρεῖσσον οὖν ἄνθρωπος δίκαιος οὐκ ἔχων εἴδωλα, ἔσται γὰρ μακρὰν ἀπὸ ὀνειδισμοῦ.

¹A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.

¹Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.

²So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.

³Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.

⁴Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye and of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.

⁵But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.

⁶For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.

⁷As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak.

⁸And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.

⁹Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves.

¹⁰Yea, they will give thereof to the common harlots, and deck them as men with garments, being gods of silver, and gods of gold, and wood.

¹¹Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment.

¹²They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them.

¹³And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a scepter, as though he were a judge of the country.

¹⁴He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an axe: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves.

¹⁵Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.

¹⁶For like as a vessel that a man useth is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it is with their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of them that come in.

¹⁷And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offendeth the king, as being committed to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, lest their gods be spoiled with robbers.

¹⁸They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one.

¹⁹They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.

²⁰Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple.

²¹Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.

²²By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.

²³Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.

²⁴The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.

²⁵They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth.

²⁶They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men.

²⁷As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.

²⁸Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.

²⁹For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.

³⁰And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.

³¹They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.

³²The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.

³³Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.

³⁴In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.

³⁵They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.

³⁶They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.

³⁷They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.

³⁸Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.

³⁹How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?

⁴⁰Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.

⁴¹Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.

⁴²The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.

⁴³Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods?

⁴⁴They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.

⁴⁵And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?

⁴⁶For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.

⁴⁷For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.

⁴⁸How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?

⁴⁹For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:

⁵⁰And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.

⁵¹Who then may not know that they are no gods?

⁵²For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.

⁵³Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.

⁵⁴Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.

⁵⁵Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?

⁵⁶Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.

⁵⁷Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.

⁵⁸Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods.

⁵⁹For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.

⁶⁰In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.

⁶¹And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.

⁶²And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.

⁶³Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.

⁶⁴Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,

⁶⁵For they can neither curse nor bless kings:

⁶⁶Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

⁶⁷The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.

⁶⁸It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.

⁶⁹For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.

⁷⁰And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.

⁷¹And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.

⁷²Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.