A Letter to the Exiles

1 A copy of a letter that Jeremiah sent to those who were to be taken as captives to Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message that God commanded him.

2 Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be taken away as captives to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians. 3 So when you come to Babylon, you will remain there many years, a long time, for seven generations.⁠a After that, I will bring you out peacefully from there.

4 But now you will see in Babylon gods of silver, gold, and wood carried on shoulders, which the nations fear.⁠b 5 So be careful not to become like these foreigners. Don’t let fear take hold of you because of them 6 when you see the crowd before them and behind them, worshiping them. But say in your hearts, “Lord, we must worship you.”

7 For my angel is with you, and I myself care for your souls.

Decorated Idols Cannot Protect Themselves

8 For their tongue is polished by the craftsman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and with silver, yet they are only imitations, and can’t speak. 9 And taking gold, as if it were for a young woman who loves fine clothes, they make crowns for the heads of their gods. 10 Sometimes also the priests take gold and silver from their gods, and spend it on themselves. 11 They will even give some of it to the common prostitutes. They dress them like men with clothing, even the gods of silver, gods of gold, and gods of wood. 12 Yet these gods can’t save themselves from rust and moths, even though they are covered with purple garments. 13 They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, which is thick on them.

14 And one who can’t put to death one who offends against him holds a scepter, as though he were the judge of a country. 15 He has also a dagger in his right hand, and an ax, but can’t save himself from war and robbers. 16 This is how you can tell that they are not gods. Therefore don’t fear them.

Idols Need Protection in Their Temples

17 Just as a container someone uses is worthless when it is broken, 18 so it is with their gods. When they are set up in the temples, their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who come in. Just as a prisoner who has offended the king is kept securely enclosed on every side while awaiting execution, so the priests secure their temples with doors, with locks, and bars, so that they will not be carried off by robbers.

19 They light candles for them, yes, more than for themselves, even though they can’t see one. 20 They are like one of the beams of the temple. People say their hearts are eaten out when creatures crawling out of the ground devour both them and their clothing. They don’t feel it 21 when their faces are blackened by the smoke that comes out of the temple. 22 Bats, swallows, and birds land on their bodies and heads. So do the cats. 23 This is how you can tell that they are not gods. Therefore don’t fear them.

Idols Depend on People

24 Despite the gold with which they are covered to make them beautiful, unless someone wipes off the tarnish, they won’t shine, because they didn’t even feel it when they were cast in metal.

25 Things in which there is no breath are bought at any price. 26 Having no feet, they are carried on people’s shoulders. By this, they show people that they are worthless. Those who serve them are also ashamed,⁠c

27 for if they fall to the ground at any time, they can’t rise up again by themselves. If they are bowed down, they can’t make themselves straight, but the offerings are placed before them, as if they were dead people.⁠d 28 And their priests sell what is sacrificed to them and spend the money. In the same way, their wives also preserve part of it with salt, but they give none to the poor and powerless.⁠e 29 The menstruating woman and the woman in childbirth touch their sacrifices,⁠f so you can tell from these things that they are not gods. Don’t fear them.

Idols Cannot Help Those Who Serve Them

30 For how can they be called gods? Because women set food before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.⁠g

31 And in their temples the priests sit on seats, with their clothes torn and their heads and beards shaved, and nothing on their heads.⁠h 32 They roar and cry before their gods, as people do at a funeral feast.⁠i 33 The priests also take off garments from them and clothe their wives and children with them.

34 Whether someone does them harm or good, they are not able to repay it. They can’t appoint a king or depose him. 35 In the same way, they can neither give riches nor money. Even if someone makes a vow to them and doesn’t keep it, they will never demand its fulfillment.

36 They can save no one from death. They can’t rescue the weak from the powerful. 37 They can’t restore a blind person’s sight, or rescue anyone who is in distress. 38 They can show no mercy to the widow, or do good to orphans.

39 They are like the stones that are cut out of the mountain, these gods of wood that are overlaid with gold and with silver. Those who serve them will be put to shame.

The Folly of Worshiping Idols

40 How could anyone then think or say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them? If they see a person who is mute and cannot speak, they bring him and ask him to call on Bel, as though he were able to understand. 41 Yet they can’t recognize this themselves and abandon them, because they have no understanding.

42 The women also with cords around them sit along the roads, burning bran for incense, 43 but if any of them, drawn by someone who passes by, lies with him, she reproaches another woman, saying that she was not thought as worthy as herself and her cord wasn’t broken. 44 Whatever is done among them is false. How could anyone then think or say that they are gods?

Idols Are Made by Human Hands

45 They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths. They can be nothing more than what the craftsmen make them to be.

46 And the people who made them cannot live long themselves. 47 How then should the things made by them be gods? For they have left falsehood and disgrace to those who come after.

48 For when war or plague comes upon them, the priests discuss among themselves where they can hide with them. 49 How then can people fail to understand that these are not gods, since they can’t save themselves from war or from plague?

50 Since they are only wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will be known in time that they are false. 51 It will be clear to all nations and kings that they are not gods, but things made by human hands, and that there is no work of God in them. 52 Who then can fail to know that they are not gods?

Idols Cannot Rule or Give Rain

53 For they can’t appoint a king in a land or give rain to people.

54 They can’t defend their own case or right a wrong, because they have no power, 55 for they are like crows between heaven and earth. For even when fire falls on the temple of gods of wood overlaid with gold or with silver, their priests will flee and escape, but they themselves will be burned apart like beams. 56 Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies. How could anyone then admit or think that they are gods?

Useful Objects and Nature Surpass Idols

57 Those gods of wood overlaid with silver or with gold aren’t able to escape from thieves or robbers. 58 Strong people will take the gold, silver, and clothing that cover them and carry it away. They won’t be able to help themselves. 59 So it is better to be a king who displays his courage, or else a household container useful for whatever the owner needs, than such false gods. It is even better to be a door in a house, to keep the things safe that are in it, than such false gods. It is better to be a wooden pillar in a palace than such false gods.

60 For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their jobs, are obedient. 61 Likewise, the lightning when it flashes is beautiful to see. In the same way, the wind also blows in every country. 62 And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are told. 63 And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does as it is commanded, but these idols cannot be compared with them in either appearance or power.

64 Therefore anyone shouldn’t think or say that they are gods, since they aren’t able to decide cases or to do good to people. 65 So, knowing that they are not gods, don’t fear them.

Even Animals Can Protect Themselves

66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings.

67 They can’t show signs in the heavens among the nations, or shine like the sun, or give light like the moon. 68 Animals are better than they are, for they can find shelter and help themselves. 69 Nothing, then, makes it clear to us that they are gods. Therefore don’t fear them.

A Righteous Life Without Idols

70 For their gods of wood overlaid with gold and silver are like a scarecrow in a cucumber garden that guards nothing.

71 Likewise, their gods of wood overlaid with gold and with silver are like a white thorn in an orchard that every bird sits on. They are also like a dead body that is thrown out into the dark. 72 You will know them to be not gods by the bright purple that rots on them. They themselves will be consumed afterwards, and will be a disgrace in the country. 73 So it is better to be the righteous person who has no idols, because he will be free from disgrace.