Yea, the truth is laid in prison, and he that refraineth himself from evil must be spoiled. When the LORD saw this, it displeased him sore that there was nowhere any equity.

He saw also, that there was no man which had pity thereof, or was grieved at it. And he held him by his own power, and cleaved to his own righteousness.

He put righteousness upon him for a breastplate, and set the helmet of health upon his head. He put on wrath instead of clothing, and took jealousy about him for a cloak:

like as when a man goeth forth wrothfully to recompense his enemies, and to be avenged of his adversaries. Namely, that he might recompense and reward the Islands,

But unto Zion there shall come a redeemer, and unto them in Jacob that turn from wickedness, sayeth the LORD.

I will make this covenant with them, sayeth the LORD: My spirit that is come upon thee, and the words which I have put in thy mouth, shall never go out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy children, nor out of the mouth of thy children's children, from this time forth for evermore.

And the heathen shall walk in thy light, and the kings in the brightness that is risen over thee.

Then thou shalt see, and shalt have plenty: thine heart shall wonder and break out in joy, when the multitude of the sea are turned to thee, and the armies of the heathen are come unto thee.

All the cattle of Cedar shall be gathered unto thee, the rams Nebaioth shall serve thee, to be offered upon mine altar, which I have chosen, and in the house of my glory which I have garnished.

The isles also shall gather them unto me, and especially the ships of the sea: that they may bring the sons from far, and their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, unto the holy one of Israel, that hath glorified thee.

Strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall do thee service. For when I am angry, I smite thee; and when it pleaseth me, I pardon thee.

Thou shalt suck the milk of the Gentiles, and kings' breasts shall feed thee. And thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and defender, the mighty one of Jacob.

Violence and robbery shall never be heard of in thy land, neither harm and destruction within thy borders. Thy walls shall be called health, and thy gates the praise of God.

The youngest and least shall grow into a thousand, and the simplest into a strong people. I the LORD shall shortly bring this thing to pass in his time.

That I might declare the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of the vengeance of our God; that I might comfort all them that are in heaviness.

That I might give unto them that mourn in Zion, beauty in the stead of ashes, joyful ointment for sighing, pleasant raiment for a heavy mind; That they might be called excellent in righteousness, a planting of the LORD for him to rejoice in.

But ye shall be named the priests of the LORD, and men shall call you the servants of our God. Ye shall enjoy the goods of the Gentiles and triumph in their substance.

For your great reproof and shame, shall they have joy, that ye may have part with them. For they shall have double possession in their land and everlasting joy shall be with them.

For I the LORD, which love right and hate robbery, though it were offered me, shall make their works full of faithfulness, and make an everlasting covenant with them.

And therefore I am joyful in the LORD, and my soul rejoiceth in my God. For he shall put upon me the garment of salvation, and cover me with the mantle of righteousness. He shall deck me like a bridegroom, and as a bride that hath her apparel upon her.

Thou shalt be a crown in the hand of the LORD, and a glorious garland in the hand of thy God.

And ye that stir up the remembrance of the Lord, see that ye pause not, neither let him have rest until he have prepared and made Jerusalem glorious in the earth.

The LORD hath sworn by his righthand and by his strong arm, that he will not give thy corn any more to be eaten of thine enemies: and that aliens shall not drink thy new wine wherefore thou hast laboured.

But they that made it shall eat it and shall praise the LORD: and they that gathered it, shall drink it in the court of my holy temple.

What is he, this that cometh from Edom, with stained red clothes of Bozrah, which is so costly cloth, and cometh in so nimbly with all his strength? "I am he that teacheth righteousness, and am of power to help."

Wherefore then is thy clothing red, and thy raiment like his that treadeth in the winepress?

"I have trodden the press myself alone, and of all people, there was not one with me. Thus have I trodden down mine enemies in my wrath, and set my feet upon them in my indignation: And their blood sprang upon my clothes, and so have I stained all my raiment.

For that day of vengeance that I have taken in hand, and the year of my deliverance, is come.

I looked about me, and there was no man to show me any help. I fell down, and no man held me up. Then I held me by mine own arm, and my ferventness sustained me:

and thus have I trodden down the people in my wrath, and bathed them in my displeasure: Insomuch that I have shed their blood upon the earth."

I will declare the goodness of the LORD, yea and the praise of the LORD, for all that he hath given us; for the great good that he hath done for Israel, which he hath given them of his own favour, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.

In their troubles he forsook them not, but the angel that went forth from his presence delivered them. Of very love and kindness that he had unto them, he redeemed them: He hath born them, and carried them up ever since the world began.

how he had led Moses by the righthand with his glorious arm; how he had divided the water before them, whereby he gat himself an everlasting name;

how he led them in the deep, as a horse is led in the plain, that they should not stumble.

The spirit of the LORD led them as a tame beast goeth in the field. Thus, O God, hast thou led thy people, to make thyself a glorious name withal.

O LORD wherefore hast thou led us out of thy way? Wherefore hast thou hardened our hearts, that we fear thee not? Be at one with us again, for thy servants' sake that are of the generation of thine heritage.

Thy people hath had but little of thy Sanctuary in possession, for our enemies have taken it in:

O that thou wouldest cleave the heaven in sunder, and come down: that the mountains might melt away at thy presence,

When thou wroughtest wondrous strange works, we looked not for them: thou camest down and the hills melted at thy presence.

For since the beginning of the world there was none except thou, O God, that heard or perceived; neither hath any eye seen what thou doest, for them that put their trust in thee.

Thou helpest him that doth right with cheerfulness, and them that think upon thy ways. But lo, thou art angry: for we offend, and have been ever in sin, and there is not one whole.

We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, stained with the flux of a woman: we fall every and each one as the leaf, for our sins carry us away like the wind.

Be not too sore displeased, O LORD, and keep not our offenses too long in thy remembrance: but consider that we all are thy people.

For thus long have I ever holden out my hands to an unfaithful people, that go not the right way, but after their own imaginations:

To a people that is ever defying me to my face. They make their oblations in gardens, and their smoke upon altars of brick;

they lurk among the graves, and lie in the dens all night. They eat swine flesh, and unclean broth is in their vessels.

If thou comest nigh them, they say, "Touch me not, for I am holier than thou." All these men when I am angry, shall be turned to smoke and fire, that shall burn forever.

Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD: like as when one would gather holy grapes, men say unto him, "Break it not off, for it is holy," even so will I do also for my servants' sakes, that I will not destroy them all.

But I will take a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah, one to take possession of my hill. My chosen shall possess these things, and my servants shall dwell there.

But as for you, ye are they that have forsaken the LORD, and forgotten my holy hill. Ye have set up an altar to Fortune, and given rich drink offerings unto the planets.

Therefore will I number you with the sword, that ye shall be destroyed all together. For when I called, no man gave me answer: when I spake, ye hearkened not unto me, but did wickedness before mine eyes, and chose the thing that pleased me not.

Whoso rejoiceth upon earth, shall rejoice in the true God: And whoso sweareth upon earth, shall swear in the true God. For the old enmity shall be forgotten, and taken away out of my sight.

For lo, I shall make a new heaven, and a new earth. And as for the old, they shall never be thought upon, nor kept in mind:

yea, I myself will rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with my people. And the voice of weeping and wailing shall not be heard in her from thence forth.

There shall never be child nor old man, that have not their full days. But when the child cometh to a hundred years old, it shall die. And if he that is a hundred years of age do wrong, he shall be cursed.

They shall build houses, and dwell in them: they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

My chosen shall live long, they shall not labour in vain, nor beget with trouble: for they are the high, blessed seed of the LORD, and their fruits with them.

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat hay like the bullock. But earth shall be the serpent's meat. There shall no man hurt nor slay another, in all my holy hill, sayeth the LORD.

Thus sayeth the LORD: Heaven is my seat, and the earth is my footstool. Where shall now the house stand, that ye build unto me? And where shall be the place, that I will dwell in?

As for these things, my hand hath made them all, and they are all created, sayeth the LORD. Which of them shall I then regard? Even him that is of a lowly troubled spirit, and standeth in awe of my works.

For whoso slayeth an ox for me, doth me so great dishonour, as he that killeth a man. He that killeth a sheep for me, choketh a dog. He that bringeth me meat offerings, offereth swine's blood. Who so maketh me a memorial of incense, praiseth the thing that is unright. Yet take they such ways in hand, and their soul delighteth in these abominations.

Therefore will I also have pleasure in laughing them to scorn, and the thing that they fear, will I bring upon them. For when I called, no man gave answer; when I spake, they would not hear: But did wickedness before mine eyes, and chose the things that displease me.

like as when a wife bringeth forth a man child, before she suffer the pain of the birth and anguish of the travail.

Who ever heard or saw such things? Doth the ground bear in one day? Or are the people born all at once, as Zion beareth her sons?

For ye shall suck comfort out of her breasts, and be satisfied. Ye shall taste, and have delight in the plenteousness of her power.

For like as a child is comforted of his mother, so shall I comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like a herb. Thus shall the hand of the LORD be known among his servants, and his indignation among his enemies.

For behold, the LORD shall come with fire, and his chariot shall be like a whirlwind, that he may recompense his vengeance in his wrath, and his indignation with the flame of fire.

Such as have made themselves holy and clean in the gardens, and those that have eaten swine's flesh, mice, and other abominations, shall be taken away together, sayeth the LORD.

and shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD: out of all people, upon horses, chariots and horse litters, upon Mules and carts to Jerusalem my holy hill, sayeth the LORD, like as the children of Israel bring the offering in clean vessels to the house of the LORD.

These are the Sermons of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah the Priest, one of them that dwelt at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

when the LORD had first spoken with him, in the time of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his kingdom;

and so during unto the time of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, and unto the eleven years of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah were ended: when Jerusalem was taken, even in the fifth Month.

"Before I fashioned thee in thy mother's womb, I did know thee: And before thou wast born, I sanctified thee and ordained thee, to be a Prophet unto the people."

And with that, the LORD stretched out his hand, and touched my mouth, and said moreover unto me, "Behold, I put my words in thy mouth,

For lo, I will call all the officers of the kingdoms of the north, sayeth the LORD. And they shall come, and every one shall set his seat in the gates of Jerusalem, and in all their walls round about and through all the cities of Judah.

And through them shall I declare my judgment, upon all the wickedness of those men that have forsaken me: that have offered unto strange gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

And therefore gird up thy loins, arise, and tell them all that I give thee in commandment. Fear them not; I will not have thee to be afraid of them.

For behold, this day do I make thee a strong fenced town, an iron pillar, and a wall of steel against the whole land; against the kings and mighty men of Judah; against the priests and people of the land.

"Go thy way, cry in the ears of Jerusalem, and say, 'Thus sayeth the LORD: I remember thee for the kindness of thy youth, and because of thy steadfast love: in that thou followedst me through the wilderness, in an untilled land.

Thus sayeth the LORD unto you, "What unfaithfulness found your fathers in me, that they went so far away from me, falling to lightness, and being so vain?

They thought not in their hearts, 'Where have we left the LORD, that brought us out of the land of Egypt? That led us through the wilderness; through a desert and rough land; through a dry and deadly land; yea a land that no man had gone through, and wherein no man had dwelt?'

And when I had brought you into a pleasant well builded land, that ye might enjoy the fruits and all the commodities of the same: ye went forth and defiled my land, and brought mine heritage to abomination.

The priests themselves said not once, 'Where is the LORD?' They that have the law in their hands, know me not: The shepherds offend against me. The Prophets do service unto Baal, and follow such things as shall bring them no profit.

"Is Israel a bond servant, or one of the household? Why is he then so spoiled?

Why do they roar and cry then upon him, as a lion? They have made his land waste, his cities are so burnt up, that there is no man dwelling in them.

And what hast thou now to do in the street of Egypt? To drink foul water? Either, what makest thou in the way to Assyria? To drink water of the flood?

Thine own wickedness shall reprove thee, and thy turning away shall condemn thee: that thou mayest know and understand, how evil and hurtful a thing it is, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and not feared him, sayeth the LORD God of Hosts.

Yea, and that so sore, that though thou washest thee with Nitre and makest thyself to savour with that sweet smelling herb of Borith: yet in my sight thou art stained with thy wickedness, sayeth the LORD thy God.

Say not now, 'I am not unclean, and I have not followed Baal.' Look upon thy own ways in the woods, valleys and dens: so shalt thou know, what thou hast done. Thou art like a swift Dromedary that goeth easily his way:

and thy wantonness is like a wild Ass, that useth the wilderness, and that snuffeth and bloweth at his will. Who can tame thee? All they that seek thee, shall not fail, but find thee in thy own uncleanness.

Thou keepest thy foot from nakedness, and thy throat from thirst, and thinkest thus in thyself, 'Tush: I will take no sorrow; I will love the strange gods, and hang upon them.'

For they say to a stock, 'Thou art my father,' and to a stone, 'Thou hast begotten me.' Yea, they have turned their back upon me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble, when they say, 'Stand up and help us!'

I shall answer them: Where are now thy gods, that thou hast made thee? Bid them stand up, and help thee in the time of need! For look how many cities thou hast, O Judah: so many gods hast thou also.

It is but lost labour, that I smite your children, for they receive not my correction. Your own sword destroyeth your prophets, like a devouring lion.

Why boastest thou thy ways so highly, to obtain favour therethrough, when thou hast yet stained them with blasphemies?

Upon thy wings is found the blood of poor and innocent people; and that not in corners and holes only, but openly in all these places.

O how evil will it be for thee to abide it, when it shall be known how oft thou hast gone backward? For thou shalt be confounded as well of Egypt, as thou wast of the Assyrians.

Commonly, when a man putteth away his wife, and she goeth from him, and marrieth with another, then the question is: should he resort unto her any more after that? Is not this field then defiled and unclean? But as for thee, thou hast played the harlot with many lovers, yet turn again to me, sayeth the LORD.

Lift up thine eyes on every side, and look, if thou be not defiled. Thou hast waited for them in the streets, and as a murderer in the wilderness. through thy whoredoms and shameful blasphemies, is the land defiled.