Baruch 6

1 A copy of a letter Jeremiah sent to those who were about to be taken captive to Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, telling them what God had commanded him. [a] 2 Because of the sins you committed before God, Nebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians will carry you captive to Babylon. 3 When you enter Babylon, you will remain there many years and for a long time—seven generations. After that I will bring you out from there in peace.

4 Now you will see in Babylon gods of silver, gold, and wood carried on shoulders, displaying terror to the nations. 5 Be careful not to become like the foreigners, and do not let fear of these gods seize you. 6 When you see crowds in front of them and behind them bowing down to them, say in your hearts, “Master, we must bow down to you.” † 7 For my messenger is with you, and he himself watches over your souls. [b]

8 Their tongues are scraped smooth by a craftsman. They are covered with gold and silver, but they are false and cannot speak. 9 As though adorning a young woman who loves finery, people take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods. 10 Sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their gods and spend it on themselves, even giving some to the prostitutes on the roof. 11 They dress these gods of silver, gold, and wood like human beings, but the gods cannot rescue themselves from rust and decay. 12 Though wrapped in purple clothing, their faces must be wiped because so much dust from the building settles on them. 13 An idol holds a scepter like a judge over a country, though it cannot kill someone who wrongs it. 14 It has a dagger and an axe in its right hand, but it cannot rescue itself from war or robbers. 15 This makes it clear that they are not gods, so do not fear them.

16 Just as a human vessel becomes useless when broken, so it is with their gods standing in their houses. 17 Their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter. 18 Just as courtyards surround a man who wronged the king and is being led away to death, the priests secure their gods’ houses with doors, locks, and bars so robbers cannot plunder them. 19 They light more lamps for them than for themselves, but the gods cannot see a single one. 20 An idol is like a beam in the building. People say its heart is being eaten away, but when creatures from the earth eat it and its clothing, it feels nothing. 21 Its face is blackened by smoke from the building. 22 Bats, swallows, birds, and even cats land on its body and head. 23 From this you will know that they are not gods, so do not fear them.

24 The gold they wear for beauty will not shine unless someone wipes off the rust. Even when they were cast, they felt nothing. 25 They are bought at any price, though there is no breath in them. 26 They are carried on shoulders because they have no feet, displaying their own dishonor to everyone. Those who serve them are also ashamed, because if an idol falls to the ground, it cannot raise itself. 27 If someone sets it upright, it cannot move by itself; if it tilts, it cannot straighten itself. Gifts are set before these idols as though before the dead. 28 Their priests sell the sacrifices offered to them and misuse the proceeds. Their wives salt some of the meat and share none with the poor or weak. Menstruating women and women in childbirth touch their sacrifices. 29 Knowing from these things that they are not gods, do not fear them.

30 How could they be called gods when women set food before gods of silver, gold, and wood? 31 The priests sit in their gods’ houses with torn tunics, shaved heads and beards, and uncovered heads. 32 They howl and shout before their gods like people at a funeral feast. 33 The priests take clothing from the idols and put it on their wives and children. 34 Whether someone does evil or good to them, they cannot repay it. They can neither appoint a king nor remove one. 35 They cannot give wealth or money. If someone makes a vow to them and does not fulfill it, they will not demand payment. 36 They cannot rescue anyone from death or free the weak from the strong. 37 They cannot restore a blind person’s sight or rescue anyone in distress. 38 They cannot show mercy to a widow or do good to the fatherless. 39 These wooden gods covered with gold and silver are like stones cut from a mountain, and those who serve them will be put to shame.

40 How, then, can anyone think or say that they are gods? 41 Even the Chaldeans dishonor them. When they see a mute person who cannot speak, they bring him to Bel and ask that he speak, as though Bel could understand. 42 Yet the Chaldeans cannot understand enough to abandon the idols, because they have no knowledge. 43 Women sit along the roads with cords around them, burning bran as incense. 44 When one of them is drawn away by a passerby and sleeps with him, she reproaches her neighbor for not being considered as worthy as she was and for not having her cord broken. 45 Everything done among these idols is false. How, then, can anyone think or say that they are gods?

46 Craftsmen and goldsmiths make them, and they can become nothing except what the craftsmen want them to be. 47 Even those who make them will not live long, so how can the things they make be gods? 48 They leave lies and disgrace to those who come after them. 49 When war or disaster comes against them, the priests consult one another about where they can hide along with the idols. 50 How can anyone fail to see that they are not gods, since they cannot rescue themselves from war or disaster? 51 Because they are wood covered with gold and silver, they will later be exposed as false. It will become clear to every nation and king that they are not gods but works of human hands, and that no work of God is in them. 52 Who, then, could fail to know that they are not gods?

53 They cannot appoint a king over a land or give rain to people. 54 They cannot judge their own case or rescue someone who is wronged, because they are powerless. They are like crows between heaven and earth. 55 When fire falls on a house of wooden gods covered with gold or silver, their priests flee and escape safely, but the idols burn through like beams. 56 They cannot stand against a king or against enemies. 57 How, then, can anyone accept or think that they are gods? 58 Wooden gods covered with silver and gold cannot escape thieves or robbers. The strong strip off their gold, silver, and clothing and carry it away, while the gods cannot help themselves. 59 A king who displays his courage is better than false gods. So is a useful vessel in a house, a door that guards what is inside, or a wooden pillar in a palace.

60 The sun, moon, and stars are bright and obedient when sent to do their work. 61 Lightning is easy to see when it appears, and the wind blows throughout every land. 62 When God commands the clouds to cross the whole inhabited world, they fulfill their command. Fire sent from above to consume mountains and forests also does what it is commanded. 63 These idols resemble none of them in appearance or power. 64 So no one should think or call them gods, because they can neither judge a case nor do good for people. 65 Since you know that they are not gods, do not fear them.

66 They can neither curse nor bless kings. 67 They cannot display signs in heaven among the nations, shine like the sun, or give light like the moon. 68 Wild animals are better than they are, because animals can run to shelter and help themselves. 69 Nothing shows that these idols are gods in any way, so do not fear them. 70 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field that guards nothing, their gods are wood covered with gold and silver. 71 Their wooden gods covered with gold and silver are also like a thornbush in a garden where every bird lands, or like a corpse thrown into darkness. 72 You will know they are not gods from the purple and marble covering that rots on them. In the end the idols themselves will be eaten away and become a disgrace in the land. 73 A righteous person without idols is better, because that person will remain far from disgrace.