Baruch 6
King James Version with ApocryphaTranslation
King James Version with Apocrypha
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
1A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent unto them which were to be led captives into Babylon by the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.
1For the sins that you have committed before God, you shall be carried away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor the king of Babylon.
2Because of the sins which ye have committed before God, ye shall be led away captives into Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.
2And when you are come into Babylon, you shall be there many years, and for a long time, even to seven generations: and after that I will bring you away from thence with peace.
3So when ye be come unto Babylon, ye shall remain there many years, and for a long season, namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.
3But now, you shall see in Babylon gods of gold, and of silver, and of stone, and of wood borne upon shoulders, causing fear to the Gentiles.
4Now shall ye see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders, which cause the nations to fear.
4Beware therefore that you imitate not the doings of others, and be afraid, and the fear of them should seize upon you.
5Beware therefore that ye in no wise be like to strangers, neither be ye afraid of them, when ye see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.
5But when you see the multitude behind, and before, adoring them, say you in your hearts: Thou oughtest to be adored, O Lord.
6But say ye in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship thee.
6For my angel is with you: And I myself will demand an account of your souls.
7For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.
7For their tongue that is polished by the craftsman, and themselves laid over with gold and silver, are false things, and they cannot speak.
8As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded and laid over with silver; yet are they but false, and cannot speak.
8And as if it were for a maiden that loveth to go gay: so do they take gold and make them up.
9And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loveth to go gay, they make crowns for the heads of their gods.
9Their gods have golden crowns upon their heads: whereof the priests secretly convey away from them gold, and silver, and bestow it on themselves.
10Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it upon themselves.
10Yea and they give thereof to prostitutes, and they dress out harlots: and again when they receive it of the harlots, they adorn their gods.
11Yea, 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.
11And these gods cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.
12Yet cannot these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered with purple raiment.
12But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among them.
13They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them.
13This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.
14And he that cannot put to death one that offendeth him holdeth a sceptre, as though he were a judge of the country.
14And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that they are not gods.
15He hath also in his right hand a dagger and an ax: but cannot deliver himself from war and thieves.
15Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their gods:
16Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.
16When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.
17For 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.
17And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by thieves.
18And 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.
18They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.
19They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one.
19And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they feel it not.
20They 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.
20Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.
21Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple.
21Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.
22Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.
22Whereby you may know that they are no gods. Therefore fear them not.
23By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.
23The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe off the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten, did they feel it.
24Notwithstanding 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.
24Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them.
25The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.
25And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that worship them.
26They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be nothing worth.
26Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead.
27They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither, if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto dead men.
27The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor.
28As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.
28The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: knowing therefore by these things that they are not gods, fear them not.
29Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know that they are no gods: fear them not.
29For how can they be called gods? because women set offerings before the gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood:
30For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold, and wood.
30And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.
31And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.
31And they roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
32They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
32The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and their children.
33The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.
33And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king nor put him down:
34Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.
34In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man make a vow to them, and perform it not, they cannot require it.
35In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them, and keep it not, they will not require it.
35They cannot deliver a man from death nor save the weak from the mighty.
36They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.
36They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man from distress.
37They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.
37They shall not pity the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
38They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
38Their gods, of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like the stones that are hewn out of the mountains: and they that worship them shall be confounded.
39Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.
39How then is it to be supposed, or to be said, that they are gods?
40How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them?
40Even the Chaldeans themselves dishonour them: who when they hear of one dumb that cannot speak, they present him to Bel, entreating him, that he may speak,
41Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may speak, as though he were able to understand.
41As though they could be sensible that have no motion themselves: and they, when they shall perceive this, will leave them: for their gods themselves have no sense.
42Yet they cannot understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.
42The women also with cords about them, sit in the ways, burning olive stones.
43The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: but if any of them, drawn by some that passeth by, lie with him, she reproacheth her fellow, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.
43And when any one of them, drawn away by some passenger, lieth with him, she upbraideth her neighbour, that she was not thought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.
44Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that they are gods?
44But all things that are done about them, are false: how is it then to be thought, or to be said, that they are gods?
45They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmen will have them to be.
45And they are made by workmen, and by goldsmiths. They shall be nothing else but what the priests will have them to be.
46And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the things that are made of them be gods?
46For the artificers themselves that make them, are of no long continuance. Can those things then that are made by them be gods?
47For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.
47But they have left false things and reproach to them that come after.
48For when there cometh any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves, where they may be hidden with them.
48For when war cometh upon them, or evils, the priests consult with themselves where they may hide themselves with them.
49How then cannot men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves from war, nor from plague?
49How then can they be thought to be gods, that can neither deliver themselves from war, nor save themselves from evils?
50For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be known hereafter that they are false:
50For seeing they are but of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, it shall be known hereafter that they are false things, by all nations and kings: and it shall be manifest that they are no gods, but the work of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
51And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but the works of men’s hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
51Whence therefore is it known that they are not gods, but the work of men’s hands, and no work of God is in them?
52Who then may not know that they are no gods?
52They cannot set up a king over the land, nor give rain to men.
53For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain unto men.
53They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression; because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth.
54Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they are as crows between heaven and earth.
54For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams.
55Whereupon when fire falleth upon the house of gods of wood, or laid over with gold or silver, their priests will flee away, and escape; but they themselves shall be burned asunder like beams.
55And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be supposed, or admitted that they are gods?
56Moreover they cannot withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or said that they be gods?
56Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or robbers: they that are stronger than them,
57Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape either from thieves or robbers.
57Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they help themselves.
58Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strong take, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.
58Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe that are therein, than such false gods.
59Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power, or else a profitable vessel in an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, to keep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods.
59The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, are obedient.
60For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.
60In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.
61In like manner the lightning when it breaketh forth is easy to be seen; and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.
61And the clouds when God commandeth them to go over the whole world, do that which is commanded them.
62And when God commandeth the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.
62The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in power are like to any one of them.
63And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods doeth as it is commanded: but these are like unto them neither in shew nor power.
63Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any good to men.
64Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they are able neither to judge causes, nor to do good unto men.
64Knowing therefore that they are not gods, fear them not.
65Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,
65For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them.
66For they can neither curse nor bless kings:
66Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
67Neither can they shew signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.
67Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and help themselves.
68The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.
68Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so fear them not.
69It is then by no means manifest unto us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.
69For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold.
70For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing: so are their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold.
70They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark.
71And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a white thorn in an orchard, that every bird sitteth upon; as also to a dead body, that is cast into the dark.
71By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.
72And ye shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rotteth upon them: and they themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.
72Better therefore is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach.
73Better therefore is the just man that hath none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.
no verse 73 in this text
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