1. “The sins of Judah are written where they cannot be erased— cut into stone with an iron pen, cut deep with a hard tip into the stone that is the hearts of the people. Their sins are carved into the horns of their altars.
2. Their children remember the altars that were dedicated to false gods. They remember the wooden poles that were dedicated to Asherah. They remember those things under the green trees and on the hills.
3. They remember those things on the mountains in the open country. The people of Judah have many treasures. I will give those things to other people. People will destroy all the high places in your country. You worshiped there, and that was a sin.
4. You will lose the land I gave you. I will let your enemies take you to be their slaves. That is because I am very angry. My anger is like a hot fire, and you will be burned forever.”
5. This is what the Lord says: “Bad things will happen to those who put their trust in people. Bad things will happen to those who depend on human strength. That is because they have stopped trusting the Lord.
6. They are like a bush in a desert where no one lives. It is in a hot and dry land. It is in bad soil. That bush does not know about the good things that God can give.
7. “But those who trust in the Lord will be blessed. They know that the Lord will do what he says.
8. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit.
9. “Nothing can hide its evil as well as the human mind. It can be very sick, and no one really understands it.
10. But I am the Lord, and I can look into a person’s heart. I can test a person’s mind and decide what each one should have. I can give each person the right payment for what they do.
11. Sometimes a bird will hatch an egg that it did not lay. Those who cheat to get money are like that bird. But when their lives are half finished, they will lose the money. At the end of their lives, it will be clear that they were fools.”
12. From the very beginning, our Temple has been a glorious throne for God. It is a very important place.
13. Lord, you are the hope of Israel. You are like a spring of living water. Those who stop following the Lord will have a very short life.
14. Lord, if you heal me, I surely will be healed. Save me, and I surely will be saved. Lord, I praise you!
15. The people of Judah continue to ask me questions. They say, “Jeremiah, what about the message from the Lord? Let’s see that message come true.”
16. Lord, I did not run away from you. I followed you. I became the shepherd you wanted. I did not want the terrible day to come. You know what I said. You see all that is happening.