Jeremiah 16:19-17:14

Tree of Life Version

17 Judah’s sin is written with an iron pen
        and with a point of a diamond,
    engraved on the tablet of their heart
        and on the horns of your altars.
² So their children remember their altars
    and their Asherah poles by leafy trees on the high hills.
³ My mountain in the country,
    your wealth and all your treasures
    I will give away as plunder,
    along with your high places
        for sin within all your borders.
⁴ So you, on your own,
        let go of your heritage that I gave you.
    So I will make you serve your enemies
        in a land that you do not know.
    For you have kindled a fire in My nose
        that will burn forever.”

⁵ Thus says Adonai:
    “Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
        and depends on flesh as his arm,
        and whose heart turns from Adonai.
⁶ For he will be like a bush in the desert.
    He cannot see goodness when it comes,
    but will dwell in parched places in the wilderness—
        a salt land where no one lives.
⁷ Blessed is the one who trusts in Adonai,
    whose confidence is in Adonai.
⁸ For he will be like a tree planted by the waters,
        spreading out its roots by a stream.
    It has no fear when heat comes,
        but its leaves will be green.
    It does not worry in a year of drought,
    nor depart from yielding fruit.

⁹ “The heart is deceitful above all things,
    and incurable—who can know it?
¹⁰ I Adonai search the heart,
    I try the mind,
    to give every man according to his ways,
        according to the fruit of his deeds.
¹¹ As a partridge that broods over young that she did not lay,
    so is one who gets wealth, unjustly.
    In the middle of his days it will abandon him,
    so at his end he will be a fool.^[a]
12 Throne of glory on high from the beginning!
    Place of our sanctuary,
¹³ Adonai, You are the hope of Israel!
    All who forsake You will be ashamed.
    Those who depart from You
        will be written in the dirt,
    for they have forsaken Adonai,
        the fountain of living waters.
¹⁴ Heal me, Adonai, and I will be healed.
    Save me, and I will be saved.
    For You are my praise.