# The Epistle of Jeremiah

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-19 — 1 clipping.*

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> The Epistle of Jeremiah 
> [sometimes Chapter Six of Baruch]
> 
> EpJer 6
> 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
> 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
> 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
> 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
> 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
> But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.
> 
> 7
> For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your
> souls.
> 
> 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
> And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go
> gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.
> 
> 10
> Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and
> silver, and bestow it upon themselves.
> 
> 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
> Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth,
> though they be covered with purple raiment.
> 
> 13
> They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when
> there is much upon them.
> 
> 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
> He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot
> deliver himself from war and thieves.
> 
> 16
> Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them
> not.
> 
> 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
> 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
> They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves,
> whereof they cannot see one.
> 
> 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
> Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of
> the temple.
> 
> 22
> Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds,
> and the cats also.
> 
> 23
> By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear
> them not.
> 
> 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
> The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most
> high price.
> 
> 26
> They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they
> declare unto men that they be nothing worth.
> 
> 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
> 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
> Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices:
> by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them
> not.
> 
> 30
> For how can they be called gods? because women set meat
> before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.
> 
> 31
> And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes
> rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their
> heads.
> 
> 32
> They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast
> when one is dead.
> 
> 33
> The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their
> wives and children.
> 
> 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
> 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 save no man from death, neither deliver the weak
> from the mighty.
> 
> 37
> They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any
> man in his distress.
> 
> 38
> They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the
> fatherless.
> 
> 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
> How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when
> even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?
> 
> 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
> Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them:
> for they have no knowledge.
> 
> 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
> Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be
> thought or said that they are gods?
> 
> 45
> They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be
> nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.
> 
> 46
> And they themselves that made them can never continue long;
> how should then the things that are made of them be gods?
> 
> 47
> For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.
> 
> 48
> For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the
> priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with
> them.
> 
> 49
> How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can
> neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?
> 
> 50
> For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and
> gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:
> 
> 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
> Who then may not know that they are no gods?
> 
> 53
> For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain
> unto men.
> 
> 54
> Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong,
> being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.
> 
> 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
> Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can
> it then be thought or said that they be gods?
> 
> 57
> Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or
> gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.
> 
> 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
> 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
> For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their
> offices, are obedient.
> 
> 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
> And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole
> world, they do as they are bidden.
> 
> 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
> 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
> Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,
> 
> 66
> For they can neither curse nor bless kings:
> 
> 67
> Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen,
> nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
> 
> 68
> The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a
> cover and help themselves.
> 
> 69
> It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods:
> therefore fear them not.
> 
> 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
> 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
> 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.
>
> — *The Epistle of Jeremiah*