1. “The sin of Judahis inscribed with an iron chisel—engraved with a diamond point on their stony heartsand on the corners of their altars.
2. Even their children go to worshipat their pagan altars and Asherah poles,beneath every green treeand on every high hill.
3. So I will hand over my holy mountain—along with all your wealth and treasuresand your pagan shrines—as plunder to your enemies,for sin runs rampant in your land.
4. The wonderful possession I have reserved for youwill slip from your hands.I will tell your enemies to take youas captives to a foreign land.For my anger blazes like a firethat will burn forever.”
5. This is what the lord says:“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,who rely on human strengthand turn their hearts away from the lord.
6. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,with no hope for the future.They will live in the barren wilderness,in an uninhabited salty land.
7. “But blessed are those who trust in the lordand have made the lord their hope and confidence.
8. They are like trees planted along a riverbank,with roots that reach deep into the water.Such trees are not bothered by the heator worried by long months of drought.Their leaves stay green,and they never stop producing fruit.
9. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,and desperately wicked.Who really knows how bad it is?
10. But I, the lord, search all heartsand examine secret motives.I give all people their due rewards,according to what their actions deserve.”