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| [1]Because of the sinnes that ye haue done against God, ye shalbe led away captiue vnto Babylon, euen of Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon. |
[1]The Epistle of Jeremiah |
[1]A 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. |
| [1]Because of the sinnes that ye haue done against God, ye shalbe led away captiue vnto Babylon, euen of Nabuchodonozor the king of Babylon. |
[1]The Epistle of Jeremiah |
[1]A 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. |
| [2]So when ye be come into Babylon, ye shall remayne there many yeres, and for a long season, [namely] seuen generations: and after that will I bring you away peaceably from thence. |
[2]Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians. |
| [3]Nowe shall ye see in Babylon gods of golde, of siluer, of wood, and of stone, borne vpon mens shoulders, to cast out a fearfulnesse before the heathen. |
[3]So 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. |
| [4]But loke that ye do not as the other: be not ye afraide, & let not the feare of them ouercome you. |
[4]Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear. |
| [5]Therfore when ye see the multitude of people worshipping them behynde and before, say ye in your heartes: O Lorde, it is thou that oughtest only to be worshipped. |
[5]Beware 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. |
| [6]Myne angell also shalbe with you, and I my selfe will care for your soules. |
[6]But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee. |
| [7]As for the timber of those gods, the carpenter hath pullished them: yea gilted be they and layed ouer with siluer, yet are they but vayne thinges, and can not speake. |
[7]For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls. |
| [8]Like as a wench that loueth paramours is trimly dect: euen so are these made and hanged with golde. |
[8]As 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. |
| [9]Crownes of golde veryly haue their gods vpon their heades: so the priestes them selues take golde and siluer from them, and put it to their owne vses: |
[9]And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods. |
| [10]Yea they geue of the same vnto harlottes, & trimme their whores withall: againe, they take it from the whores, and decke their gods therwith: |
[10]Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves. |
| [11]Yet can not these gods deliuer them selues from rust and mothes. |
[11]Yea, 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. |
| [12]When they haue couered them with clothing of purple, they wype their faces for the dust of the temple, whereof there is much among them. |
[12]Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment. |
| [13]One hath a scepter in his hande as though he were iudge of the countrey, yet can he not slay such as offende hym. |
[13]They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them. |
| [14]An other hath a sworde or an axe in his hand: for al that, he is neither able to defende hym selfe from battayle, nor from murtherers. |
[14]And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country. |
| [15]By this ye may vnderstande, that they be no gods: therefore see that ye neither worship them, nor feare them. |
[15]He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves. |
| [16]For like as a vessell that a man vseth, is nothing worth when it is broken, euen so is it with their gods: When they be set vp in the temple, their eyes be ful of dust thorowe the feete of those that come in. |
[16]Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not. |
| [17]And like as the doores are shut in round about vpon hym that hath offended the king, or as it were a dead body kept beside the graue: Euen so, the priestes kepe the doores with barres & lockes, lest their gods be spoyled with robbers. |
[17]For 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. |
| [18]They set vp candels before them, yea veryly and that many, wherof they can not see one: but euen as blockes, so stande they in the temple. |
[18]And 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. |
| [19]It is sayd, that the serpentes & wormes whiche come of the earth gnawe out their hartes, eating them & their clothes also, and yet they feele it not. |
[19]They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one. |
| [20]Their faces are blacke, thorowe the smoke that is in the temple. |
[20]They 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. |
| [21]The owles, swalowes, and byrdes flee vpon them, yea and the cattes run ouer their heades. |
[21]Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple. |
| [22]By this ye may be sure that they are not gods, therfore feare them not. |
[22]Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also. |
| [23]The golde that they haue is to make them beautifull: for all that, except some body dight of their rust they wil geue no shine, and when they were cast into a fourme, they felt it not. |
[23]By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not. |
| [24]They are bought for money, and haue no breath of lyfe within them. |
[24]Notwithstanding 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. |
| [25]They must be borne vpon mens shoulders as those that haue no feete, wherby they declare vnto men that they be nothing worth: confounded be they then that worship them. |
[25]The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price. |
| [26]For if they fall to the ground, they can not rise vp againe of them selues: Yea though one helpe them vp and set them right, yet are they not able to stande alone, but must haue proppes set vnder them like dead men. |
[26]They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth. |
| [27]As for the thing that is offred vnto them, their priestes sell it, & abuse it, yea the priestes wyues take thereof: but vnto the sicke & poore they geue nothing of it. |
[27]They 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. |
| [28]The women with childe and the menstruous lay handes of their offringes: By this ye may be sure that they are no gods, therefore be not ye afrayde of them. |
[28]As 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. |
| [29]From whence commeth it then that they be called gods? the women sit before the gods of siluer, golde, and wood, |
[29]Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not. |
| [30]And the priestes sit in their temples, hauing open clothes, whose heades and beardes are shauen, and haue nothing vpon their heades, |
[30]For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood. |
| [31]Roaring and crying vpon their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead. |
[31]And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads. |
| [32]The priestes also take away the garmentes of the images, and decke their wyues and children withall. |
[32]They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead. |
| [33]Whether it be good or euyll that any man do vnto them, they are not able to recompence it: they can neither set vp a king, nor put him downe. |
[33]The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children. |
| [34]In like maner, they may neither geue riches, nor rewarde euyll: though a man make a vow vnto them and kepe it not, they will not require it. |
[34]Whether 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. |
| [35]They can saue no man from death, neither deliuer the weake from the mightie. |
[35]In 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. |
| [36]They can not restore a blind man to his sight, nor helpe any man at his neede. |
[36]They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty. |
| [37]They can shewe no mercie to the widdowe, nor do good to the fatherlesse. |
[37]They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress. |
| [38]Their gods of wood, stone, golde, and siluer, are but euen as other stones that be hewen of the mountayne: they that worship them, shalbe confounded. |
[38]They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless. |
| [39]Howe shoulde they then be taken for gods? yea howe dare men call them gods? |
[39]Their 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. |
| [40]And though the Chaldees worshipped them not, hearing that they were but dombe and coulde not speake: |
[40]How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them? |
| [41]Yet they them selues offer vnto Bel, and woulde fayne haue hym to speake: as who say they coulde feele, that may not moue. |
[41]Who 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. |
| [42]But when these men come to vnderstanding, they shall forsake them, for their gods haue no feeling. |
[42]Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge. |
| [43]A great sort of women girde with coardes, sit in the streetes, & burne oliue beries: Now if one of them be conueyed away, and lye with such as come by, she casteth her neyghbours in the teeth, because she was not worthyly reputed, nor her coarde broken. |
[43]The 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. |
| [44]What so euer is done for them, it is but in vayne and lost: Howe may it then be thought or sayde, that they are gods? |
[44]Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods? |
| [45]Carpenters and goldesmithes make them: neither be they any other thing, but euen what the workemen wil make of them. |
[45]They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be. |
| [46]Yea the goldsmithes them selues that make them are of no long continuaunce: howe shoulde then the thinges that are made of them, be gods? |
[46]And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods? |
| [47]Uayne therfore are the thinges, yea very shame is it that they leaue behinde them for their posteritie. |
[47]For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after. |
| [48]For assoone as there commeth any warre or plague vpon them, then the priestes imagine where they may hyde them selues with them. |
[48]For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them. |
| [49]Howe can men thinke then that they be gods, whiche neither may defende them selues from warre, nor deliuer them from misfortune? |
[49]How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague? |
| [50]For seyng they be but of wood, of stone, of siluer, and of golde, all people and kinges shall knowe hereafter that they be but vayne thinges: yea it shalbe openly declared that they be no gods, but euen the very workes of mens handes, and that God hath nothing to do with them. |
[50]For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false: |
| [51]It is manifest then that they are no gods, but the workes of mens handes, and no worke of God in them. |
[51]And 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. |
| [52]They can set no king in the lande, nor geue rayne vnto men. |
[52]Who then may not know that they are no gods? |
| [53]They can geue no sentence of a matter, neither defende the lande from wrong: for they are not able to do so much as a crowe that fleeth betwixt heauen and earth. |
[53]For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men. |
| [54]When there happeneth a fire into the house of those gods of wood, and siluer, and of golde, the priestes will escape and saue them selues, but the gods burne as the balkes therin. |
[54]Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth. |
| [55]They can not withstande any king or battell: howe may it then be thought or graunted that they be gods? |
[55]Whereupon 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. |
| [56]Moreouer, these gods of wood, of stone, of gold and siluer, may neither defend them selues from theeues nor robbers: |
[56]Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods? |
| [57]Yea the very wicked are stronger then they: these stryp them out of their apparell that they be clothed withall, these take their golde and siluer from them, & so get them away, yet can they not helpe them selues. |
[57]Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers. |
| [58]Therfore it is much better for a man to be a king, and so to shewe his power, or els a profitable vessell in a house, wherin he that oweth it might haue pleasure, yea or to be a doore in a house, to kepe such thinges safe as be therein: then to be such a vayne god. |
[58]Whose 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. |
| [59]The sunne, the moone, & al the starres, seing they geue their shine and light, are obedient, and do men good. |
[59]Therefore 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 a palace, than such false gods. |
| [60]When the lightning glistreth, all is cleare. |
[60]For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient. |
| [61]The winde bloweth in euery countrey: & when God commaundeth the cloudes to go rounde about the whole worlde, they do as they are bidden. |
[61]In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country. |
| [62]When the fire is sent downe from aboue and commaunded, it burneth vp hilles & woodes: but as for those gods, they are not like one of these thinges, neither in beautie, neither in strength. |
[62]And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden. |
| [63]Wherfore, men shoulde not thinke nor say that they be gods, seing they can neither geue sentence in iudgement, nor do men good. |
[63]And 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. |
| [64]Forsomuch nowe as ye are sure that they be no gods, then feare them not: |
[64]Wherefore 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. |
| [65]For they can neither speake euyll nor good of kinges. |
[65]Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not, |
| [66]They can shew no tokens in heauens for the heathen, neither shyne as the sunne, nor geue light as the moone: |
[66]For they can neither curse nor bless kings: |
| [67]Yea the vnreasonable beastes are better then they: for they can get them vnder the roofe, and do them selues good. |
[67]Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon. |
| [68]So can ye be certified by no maner of meanes that they be gods, therefore feare them not. |
[68]The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves. |
| [69]For like as a scarcrowe in a garden of hearbes kepeth nothing: euen so are their gods of wood, of siluer, and golde. |
[69]It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not. |
| [70]And like as a white thorne in an orcharde that euery byrd sitteth vpon, yea lyke as a dead body that is cast in the darke: euen so is it with those gods of wood, siluer, and golde. |
[70]For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold. |
| [71]By the purple & scarlet which they haue vpon them and soone faydeth away, ye may vnderstande that they be no gods: yea they them selues shall be consumed at the last, whiche shalbe a great confusion of the lande. |
[71]And 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. |
| [72]Blessed is the godly man that hath no images and worshippeth none: for he shalbe farre from reproofe. |
[72]And 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. |
| [73]Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach. |