Letter of Jeremiah 6:9-25
-
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.