1. The sin of Judah is writtenwith an iron stylus,Engraved with a diamond pointupon the tablets of their hearts,And the horns of their altars,
2. when their children remember their altars and their asherahs, beside the green trees, on the high hills,
3. the peaks in the country.Your wealth and all your treasuresI give as plunder,As payment for all your sinsthroughout your territory,
4. You will relinquish your hold on your heritagewhich I have given you.I will enslave you to your enemiesin a land you do not know:For a fire has broken out from my anger,burning forever.
5. Thus says the Lord:Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings,who makes flesh his strength,whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6. He is like a barren bush in the wastelandthat enjoys no change of season,But stands in lava beds in the wilderness,a land, salty and uninhabited.
7. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord;the Lord will be their trust.
8. They are like a tree planted beside the watersthat stretches out its roots to the stream:It does not fear heat when it comes,its leaves stay green;In the year of drought it shows no distress,but still produces fruit.
9. More tortuous than anything is the human heart,beyond remedy; who can understand it?
10. I, the Lord, explore the mindand test the heart,Giving to all according to their ways,according to the fruit of their deeds.
11. A partridge that broods but does not hatchare those who acquire wealth unjustly:In midlife it will desert them;in the end they are only fools.
12. A throne of glory, exalted from the beginning,such is our holy place.
13. O Hope of Israel, Lord!all who forsake you shall be put to shame;The rebels shall be enrolled in the netherworld;they have forsaken the Lord, source of living waters.
14. Heal me, Lord, that I may be healed;save me, that I may be saved,for you are my praise.
15. See how they say to me,“Where is the word of the Lord?Let it come to pass!”