
THE PRAYER OF EXILES{/}
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
words of the book written 
by Baruch, the son of 
Neriah, descended from 
Massiah, from Sedekiah, 
from Hasadiah, from 
Hilkiah. {I}2_{/}They 
were written in the fifth 
year, on the seventh day 
of the month, at the time 
when the Chaldeans had 
taken Jerusalem and 
burned it.
{I}3_{/}Baruch read the 
words of this book to 
Jeconiah, the son of 
Joachim, the king of 
Judah, in the presence of 
all the people who had 
come together to hear it 
read. {I}4_{/}He read it 
in the hearing of the 
nobles and the king's 
sons, of the elders and 
all the people, from the 
smallest to the greatest 
- that is, all those who 
were living in Babylon 
near the River Sudi.
{I}5_{/}Then the people 
wept and fasted and 
prayed before the Lord. 
{I}6_{/}They also 
collected money according 
to what each one could 
afford {I}7_{/}and this 
they sent to Jerusalem, 
to the priest Jehoiakim, 
son of Hilkiah, the son 
of Shallum, and to the 
other priests and people 
who dwelt in Jerusalem 
with him. {I}8_{/}This 
same Baruch had 
undertaken to carry back 
to Judea, on the tenth 
day of the month of 
Sivan, the sacred vessels 
which had been taken away 
from the Temple of the 
Lord. These were the 
silver vessels made by 
Zedekiah, son of Josiah, 
king of Judah, 
{I}9_{/}after 
Nebuchadnezzar, the king 
of Babylon, had carried 
off Jeconiah, the 
artisans, the nobles and 
the people of the land 
and had taken them 
captive to Babylon.
{I}10_{/}The letter said: 
Look, we are sending you 
money; buy with it 
victims for the holocaust 
and for sin offerings and 
incense; prepare 
oblations and offer them 
on the Altar of the Lord 
our God. {I}11_{/}Pray 
for the life of 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, and of 
Balthasar, his son, so 
that they may be 
successful in all that 
they do. {I}12_{/}Thus 
the Lord will give 
strength and light to our 
eyes. We will live under 
the protection of 
Nebuchadnezzar, King of 
Babylon, and of his son, 
Balthasar. We shall have 
a long life serving them 
and we shall find favor 
before them.
{I}13_{/}Pray to the Lord 
our God for us also, for 
we have sinned against 
the Lord our God, even to 
this day the anger of the 
Lord and his fury have 
not been turned away from 
us. {I}14_{/}Finally, 
read this book which we 
are sending to you, so 
that you can read it 
publicly in the House of 
the Lord on the day of 
the Feast and on other 
suitable days.
{I}15_{/}You will say: 
May everyone recognize 
the justice of our God 
but, on this day, shame 
and confusion befit the 
men of Judah and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem 
- {I}16_{/}our kings and 
princes, our priests, our 
prophets, and our 
fathers, {I}17_{/}because 
we have sinned before the 
Lord. {I}18_{/}We have 
disobeyed him and have 
not listened to the voice 
of the Lord our God, nor 
have we followed the 
commandments which the 
Lord had put before us. 
{I}19_{/}From the day 
that the Lord brought our 
fathers out of the land 
of Egypt until this day, 
we have disobeyed the 
Lord our God and we have 
rebelled against him 
instead of listening to 
his voice.
{I}20_{/}Because of this, 
from the day on which the 
Lord brought our fathers 
out of the land of Egypt, 
so as to give them a land 
flowing with milk and 
honey, the evils and the 
curse which the Lord 
pronounced by Moses, his 
servant, have dogged our 
footsteps right down to 
the present day. 
{I}21_{/}We did not 
listen to the voice of 
the Lord our God speaking 
through the words of the 
prophets whom he sent to 
us, {I}22_{/}but each one 
of us followed his 
perverted heart, serving 
false gods and doing what 
displeases the Lord our 
God.
{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}That is why the 
Lord our God has carried 
out the word which he 
spoke against us, against 
the judges who have 
governed Israel, against 
our kings, our princes 
and the men of Israel and 
Judah.
{I}2_{/}No one under the 
sky has ever seen the 
like of what happened in 
Jerusalem, according to 
what is written in the 
book of Moses. 
{I}3_{/}For people among 
us came to eat their 
son's and daughter's 
flesh. {I}4_{/}And he 
handed them over into the 
power of all the 
surrounding kingdoms, so 
that they were cursed and 
humiliated among the 
neighboring peoples among 
whom the Lord had 
scattered them. 
{I}5_{/}Submission and 
not command has been our 
lot, because we have 
sinned against the Lord 
our God and have not 
listened to his voice.
{I}6_{/}Just is the Lord 
our God, whereas shame 
and confusion befit us 
and our fathers right 
down to this day. 
{I}7_{/}All those evils 
which the Lord prophesied 
concerning us have fallen 
upon us. {I}8_{/}And we 
have not begged the Lord 
to make each of us turn 
away from the thoughts of 
our evil hearts. 
{I}9_{/}Then the Lord 
kept watch over the evils 
and allowed them to come 
upon us, for the Lord is 
just in all that he has 
commanded us to{I}_{/}do. 
{I}10_{/}We have not 
listened to his voice nor 
followed the commands 
which the Lord has 
ordered us to keep.
{I}11_{/}And now, Lord 
God of Israel, you who 
brought your people out 
of Egypt with a strong 
hand, with miracles and 
wonders and great power, 
you who stretched out 
your arm and made for 
yourself a name such as 
you have today, 
{I}12_{/}we have sinned. 
We have been godless and 
unjust, Lord, careless 
about all your commands. 
{I}13_{/}May your fury be 
turned away from us, for 
there are very few of us 
left among the nations in 
which you have scattered 
us.
{I}14_{/}Hear our 
supplication and our 
prayer, O Lord, deliver 
us for your own honor and 
let us find favor with 
those who deported us. 
{I}15_{/}Let all the 
earth know that you are 
the Lord our God, because 
Israel and its people 
bear your name. 
{I}16_{/}Lord, look down 
from your holy dwelling 
place and think of us; 
Lord, incline your ear 
and listen; 
{I}17_{/}Lord, open your 
eyes and consider: it is 
not the dead, lying in 
the netherworld, who will 
praise your glory and 
justice, {I}18_{/}since 
their spirit has been 
taken from their breast. 
Grieving under his 
burden, and walking bowed 
down and exhausted, the 
man with eyes sore from 
weeping and who is hungry 
- these are they, who can 
give you glory and 
justice, O Lord.
{I}19_{/}For it is not on 
account of the merits of 
our fathers and of our 
kings that we pour out 
our cry for pity before 
you, O Lord our God. 
{I}20_{/}You have sent 
down on us your fury and 
your anger as you 
announced through your 
servants, the prophets, 
saying, {I}21_{/}"Thus 
says the Lord: Bend your 
shoulders and serve the 
king of Babylon and you 
will dwell in the land 
that I gave to your 
fathers. {I}22_{/}But if 
you do not listen to the 
voice of the Lord your 
God and serve the king of 
Babylon, {I}23_{/}I will 
bring to an end in the 
towns of Judah and in 
Jerusalem the song of joy 
and gladness, the song of 
the bridegroom and the 
bride, and the whole 
country will become a 
desert without 
inhabitants. {I}24_{/}We 
did not listen to your 
invitation to serve the 
king of Babylon and so 
you carried out what you 
had foretold by your 
servants, the prophets, 
that the bones of our 
kings and our fathers 
would be taken from their 
graves. {I}25_{/}See, 
they have been exposed to 
the heat of the day and 
the cold of the night; 
they died in cruel 
sufferings, by famine, by 
the sword and by plagues. 
{I}26_{/}And you have 
reduced the nation which 
bears your name to the 
state in which it is 
today because of the 
wickedness of the people 
of Judah.
{I}27_{/}However, you 
have acted towards us, O 
Lord our God, indulgently 
and with great 
tenderness, {I}28_{/}as 
you foretold by your 
servant Moses, the day 
you ordered him to write 
down your Law in the 
presence of the children 
of Israel saying: 
{I}29_{/}If you do not 
listen to my voice, this 
great and vast multitude 
will be reduced to a 
small remnant among the 
nations where I shall 
scatter them; 
{I}30_{/}for I know well 
that they will not listen 
to me because they are a 
stiff-necked people. But 
in the land of their 
exile their hearts will 
be converted {I}31_{/}and 
they will know that I am 
the Lord their God. 
{I}32_{/}And I will give 
them a heart and 
listening ears, that they 
may praise me in the land 
of their exile and 
remember my name. 
{I}33_{/}They will repent 
of their stiff-necked 
obstinacy and their evil 
deeds, because they will 
remember what happened to 
their fathers who had 
sinned before the Lord. 
{I}34_{/}And I will lead 
them into the land which 
I have promised by oath 
to their fathers, to 
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob 
and they will take 
possession of it. I will 
increase their number and 
it will no longer 
diminish. {I}35_{/}I will 
make with them an 
everlasting covenant; I 
will be their God and 
they shall be my people. 
I will no longer drive my 
people Israel from the 
land which I have given 
them.
{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Almighty Lord, 
God of Israel, a soul in 
anguish and a discouraged 
spirit cries out to you. 
{I}2_{/}Listen, Lord, and 
have pity for we have 
sinned against you; 
{I}3_{/}for you reign 
forever while we perish 
forever. {I}4_{/}Lord, 
all-powerful God of 
Israel, listen then to 
the prayers of the dead 
of Israel. We are the 
sons of those who sinned 
against you, who did not 
listen to the voice of 
their God, and this is 
why disgrace has come 
upon us. {I}5_{/}Do not 
remember any longer the 
wrongdoing of our 
fathers, but remember at 
this time your power and 
your name; {I}6_{/}for 
you are the Lord, our God 
and we will praise you, 
Lord. {I}7_{/}That is why 
you have put your fear 
into our hearts and we 
call upon your name. And 
we will praise you in our 
exile for we have removed 
from our hearts all the 
wrong of our fathers who 
sinned against you. 
{I}8_{/}We are here today 
in our exile where you 
have scattered us to be 
insulted, cursed and 
condemned for the 
wrongdoing of our 
fathers, who separated 
themselves from the Lord 
our God.
WHO HAS FOUND WISDOM?{/}

{I}9_{/}Listen, Israel, 
to the commands of life, 
give ear so as to learn 
prudence,
{I}10_{/}Why, Israel! Why 
are you in the land of 
your foes? Why are you 
growing old in a foreign 
country, contaminated by 
pagans,
{I}11_{/}counted among 
those who go to the pit?
{I}12_{/}You have 
abandoned the source of 
Wisdom.
{I}13_{/}If you had 
walked in the way of God, 
peace would be your 
dwelling place forever.
{I}14_{/}Learn where is 
Wisdom, where is Strength 
and Understanding,
that you may know, at the 
same time, where are 
length of days and life,
light of the eyes and 
Peace.
{I}15_{/}Who will find 
Wisdom's dwelling?
Who will enter her 
storage rooms?
{I}16_{/}Where are the 
leaders of the nations, 
those who commanded the 
beasts of the earth,
{I}17_{/}who played with 
the birds of the heavens,
who piled up silver and 
gold - in which men put 
their trust -
and who never tired of 
collecting it?
{I}18_{/}Amassing money 
was their only concern,
their business beyond 
measure.
{I}19_{/}But they have 
disappeared,
they have gone down to 
the dead
and others have risen in 
their place.
{I}20_{/}A younger 
generation is there
on the earth and enjoys 
the light,
but they have not known 
the ways of knowledge;
they have not seen his 
tracks nor have they met 
him,
{I}21_{/}and their sons 
after them did not leave 
their paths.
{I}22_{/}No one in Canaan 
has heard of Wisdom, no 
one has seen her in 
Teman.
{I}23_{/}The sons of 
Agar, who seek knowledge 
of the earth,
the traders of Madian and 
Teman,
the tellers of fables and 
philosophers,
they have not known the 
path of Wisdom,
they have not discovered 
her ways.
{I}24_{/}O Israel, how 
great is the house of 
God, how vast his 
dominion!
{I}25_{/}It is great and 
has no limits.
It is lofty, wide and 
immeasurable.
{I}26_{/}There were born 
the ancient and famous 
giants
of high stature and 
skillful in war.
{I}27_{/}God did not 
choose them,
he did not teach them the 
ways of Wisdom,
{I}28_{/}and they 
perished because of their 
folly, because they 
lacked knowledge.
{I}29_{/}Who has ascended 
to Heaven that he may lay 
hold of her
and bring her down from 
the clouds?
{I}30_{/}Who has crossed 
seas and found her, and 
bought her with the 
purest of gold?
{I}31_{/}There is no one 
who knows her path, no 
one who thinks of her 
way.
{I}32_{/}But he who knows 
everything recognizes 
her.
He has found her in his 
own intellect.
He who created the earth, 
for all time, and has 
filled it with four-
footed beings.
{I}33_{/}He who sends the 
light, and it goes, who 
recalls it, and trembling 
it obeys.
{I}34_{/}The stars shine, 
full of joy, to keep 
their night watches.
He calls them and they 
answer, "Here we are."
They shine with joy for 
their Creator.
{I}35_{/}It is he who is 
our God, no other can be 
compared with him.
{I}36_{/}He has found the 
way of understanding and 
has given her to Jacob 
his servant and to Israel 
his well-beloved.
{I}37_{/}Then Wisdom was 
seen on earth and lived 
among men.
{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}She herself is 
the book of the commands 
of God, the law which 
endures forever.
All who hold fast to her 
will have life
but those who abandon her 
will die.
{I}2_{/}Come back, Jacob, 
and embrace her, walk 
towards brightness under 
her light.
{I}3_{/}Do not give up 
what is your glory or 
sell your privileges to 
any strange nation.
{I}4_{/}We are fortunate, 
O Israel, for we know 
what pleases the Lord!
CONSOLATION FOR 
JERUSALEM{/}

{I}5_{/}Take courage, my 
people, you who preserve 
the memory of Israel. 
{I}6_{/}You have been 
sold to the nations but 
not for your destruction; 
because you had aroused 
the anger of God, you 
were delivered to your 
enemies. {I}7_{/}For you 
displeased your Creator 
in sacrificing to demons 
and not to God. 
{I}8_{/}You have 
forgotten the Eternal 
God, the one who 
nourished you. You have 
filled Jerusalem with 
sadness, she who brought 
you up. {I}9_{/}For she 
saw the anger of God fall 
on you and she said, 
"Listen, you neighboring 
cities of Zion, God has 
sent me a great sorrow. 
{I}10_{/}I have seen the 
captivity of my sons and 
daughters, which the 
Eternal one brought on 
them. {I}11_{/}I had 
nurtured them in joy; 
with tears and sadness I 
saw them leave. 
{I}12_{/}Let no one 
rejoice on seeing me a 
widow and abandoned by 
all. Because of the sins 
of my children I am now 
alone, because they have 
turned away from the law 
of God.
{I}13_{/}They have not 
remembered its precepts; 
nor have they walked in 
the ways of his 
commandments, and 
followed the discipline 
which leads to 
uprightness.
{I}14_{/}Let them come, 
the neighbors of Zion, 
and remember the 
captivity which the 
Eternal One laid on my 
sons and daughters.
{I}15_{/}For he caused a 
distant nation to come 
against them, a ruthless 
nation with an unknown 
language.
They had no respect for 
the old, and no pity for 
the infant; {I}16_{/}they 
took away the only son of 
the widow, as well as her 
daughter, and left her 
alone.
{I}17_{/}But as for 
myself, how can I help 
you? {I}18_{/}He who 
caused these evils to 
come upon you will 
deliver you from the 
hands of your enemies.
{I}19_{/}Well, my 
children, go on your way; 
as for me, I am left 
alone.
{I}20_{/}I have taken off 
the garment of peace and 
put on again the 
sackcloth of penance and 
prayer. I will cry out to 
the Eternal One all the 
rest of my days.
{I}21_{/}Come, take 
courage, my children, cry 
out to God. He will 
deliver you from the 
violence of the enemy.
{I}22_{/}Because I hoped 
for your salvation from 
the Eternal One, joy has 
come to me from the Holy 
One, because of the mercy 
that will come to you 
soon from the Eternal 
One, our Savior.
{I}23_{/}In tears and 
mourning, I saw you 
leave, but in joy and 
gladness God will bring 
you back to me forever.
{I}24_{/}As the neighbors 
of Zion have seen your 
captivity so they will 
soon see your salvation 
from God, when he 
manifests to you the 
great glory and the 
splendor of the Eternal 
God.
{I}25_{/}Children, bear 
patiently this punishment 
which came on you from 
God. The enemy has 
persecuted you, but you 
will soon see his 
downfall and you will 
trample him underfoot.
{I}26_{/}My well-beloved 
children have walked by 
difficult paths, carried 
off like a herd stolen by 
enemies. {I}27_{/}Take 
courage, my children, cry 
out to God, for he who 
sent you into exile will 
remember you.
{I}28_{/}Thus, as you 
distanced yourself from 
God, return to him and 
seek him ten times more 
earnestly. {I}29_{/}For 
he who caused these evils 
to fall on you will bring 
you salvation and eternal 
joy.
{I}30_{/}Take courage, 
Jerusalem. He who has 
named you will console 
you.
{I}31_{/}Cursed be those 
who did evil to you and 
rejoiced in your 
downfall. {I}32_{/}Cursed 
be those cities in which 
your children were 
slaves, cursed the nation 
in which they had to 
live.
{I}33_{/}Just as that 
nation rejoiced in your 
downfall and took 
pleasure in your 
destruction so will she 
be afflicted and 
destroyed.
{I}34_{/}I will take from 
her the joy of being a 
numerous people; her 
pride will be turned into 
mourning.
{I}35_{/}A fire will 
descend on her from the 
Eternal One and burn for 
many days. She will be 
inhabited by demons for a 
long time.
{I}36_{/}Jerusalem, look 
towards the East, and see 
the joy which is coming 
to you from God.
{I}37_{/}Look, your sons 
who were scattered are 
returning. They are 
assembling, coming 
together, from the East 
and from the West, at the 
voice of the Holy One, 
rejoicing in the glory of 
God.
{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}Jerusalem, put 
off your garment of 
mourning and unhappiness, 
put on the splendor and 
glory of God forever.
{I}2_{/}Wrap yourself in 
the mantle of holiness 
that comes from God, put 
on your head the crown of 
glory of the Eternal One.
{I}3_{/}For God will show 
your splendor to every 
being under Heaven.
{I}4_{/}He will call your 
name forever, "Peace in 
Justice" and "Glory in 
the Fear of the Lord."
{I}5_{/}Rise up, 
Jerusalem, stand on the 
heights. Look towards the 
East and see your 
children gathered 
together from the setting 
of the sun to its rising, 
by the voice of the Holy 
One, rejoicing because 
God has remembered them.
{I}6_{/}They left you on 
foot, taken away by the 
enemy. God will lead them 
back, carried gloriously 
like royal princes.
{I}7_{/}For God has 
resolved to bring low 
every high mountain and 
the everlasting hills, to 
fill up the valleys and 
level out the ground, in 
order that Israel may 
walk in safety under the 
Glory of God.
{I}8_{/}Even the forests 
and the fragrant trees 
will give shade to Israel 
at God's command. 
{I}9_{/}For God will lead 
Israel with joy by the 
light of his Glory, 
escorting them with his 
mercy and justice.
THE LETTER OF JEREMIAH{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}A copy of the 
letter which Jeremiah 
sent to those who were to 
be taken captive to 
Babylon by the king of 
the Babylonians, to let 
them know what God had 
ordered him.
"Because of the sins you 
have committed against 
God, you will be led 
captive to Babylon by 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
the Babylonians. 
{I}2_{/}After your 
arrival in Babylon you 
will remain there for a 
number of years - a long 
time, for seven 
generations; but after 
that I shall bring you 
home in peace.
{I}3_{/}In Babylon you 
will see gods of silver, 
gold and wood, carried on 
men's shoulders and 
filling the people with 
fear. {I}4_{/}Take care 
not to copy what 
foreigners do and not to 
let yourselves be 
terrified by them 
{I}5_{/}when you see the 
crowds pressing in front 
and behind to adore them. 
{I}6_{/}Say rather to 
yourselves: 'Master, it 
is you we are to adore.' 
My angel is with you to 
take care of your lives.
{I}7_{/}Their tongues 
have been polished by a 
craftsman and even if 
they are of gold and 
silver, they are false 
and are unable to speak. 
{I}8_{/}As for a maiden 
conscious of her 
appearance, these pagans 
make golden crowns for 
their gods. {I}9_{/}Yet 
at times the priests 
steal the gold and silver 
from their gods for their 
own use and for the 
prostitutes in their 
temples.
{I}10_{/}They give 
clothes to these gods as 
if they were men, but 
they are only things of 
gold, silver and wood, 
which cannot defend 
themselves from rust or 
woodworm. {I}11_{/}So, 
after clothing them in 
purple, they wipe their 
faces because of the 
thick dust of the temple 
that covers them.
{I}12_{/}The god has a 
scepter like a governor 
of a province, but he 
cannot destroy the person 
who has wronged him. 
{I}13_{/}He carries sword 
and axe in his right 
hand, but he is helpless 
both in war and against 
thieves. {I}14_{/}This 
clearly proves they are 
not gods; have no fear of 
them.
{I}15_{/}A broken pot is 
useless for anyone. So 
are those gods enshrined 
in their temples. 
{I}16_{/}Their eyes are 
full of the dust raised 
by those who enter. 
{I}17_{/}Just as doors 
are carefully closed on a 
man who has offended the 
king or on a convict 
sentenced to death, in 
the same way the priests 
lock and bolt the doors 
of the temple for fear of 
thieves. {I}18_{/}They 
light lamps, far more 
numerous than what they 
need for themselves, and 
yet the god sees no one. 
{I}19_{/}He is no more 
than any of the beams of 
the temple and some 
whisper that the inner 
part is gnawed by 
termites; worms out of 
the ground devour both 
the god and his clothes, 
but he feels nothing. 
{I}20_{/}Their faces have 
become black because of 
the smoke of the temple. 
{I}21_{/}Owls alight on 
their heads and 
shoulders, swallows and 
other birds perch on them 
and cats prowl around 
them. {I}22_{/}This tells 
you they are not gods, so 
have no fear of them.
{I}23_{/}If the rust on 
the gold that adorns them 
is not removed, they 
cannot shine. Yet what 
does it matter? Even when 
they were cast they felt 
nothing. {I}24_{/}They 
may be bought at a high 
price but there is not a 
breath of life in them. 
{I}25_{/}As they are 
without feet, they are 
carried on men's 
shoulders, showing 
publicly their shame. 
What a confusion for 
their worshipers if the 
god falls! They must lift 
him up. {I}26_{/}Once he 
has been stood up, he 
does not move. If tilted, 
he is helpless to 
straighten up. So you 
make offerings to these 
gods as you make to dead 
men.
{I}27_{/}The priests 
collect what has been 
offered for sacrifice, 
selling it, while the 
wives salt some of it but 
give nothing to the poor 
and helpless. Do you 
think these are true 
offerings? Even women 
giving birth or who are 
ritually unclean touch 
them. {I}28_{/}See that 
they are not gods and 
have no fear of them.
{I}29_{/}How can they be 
called gods? Women carry 
offerings to things made 
of silver, wood and gold. 
{I}30_{/}The priests 
remain seated in the 
temple, their garments 
torn, head and beard 
shaved, and no covering 
on their heads. 
{I}31_{/}They roar and 
cry in the presence of 
their gods as do certain 
people during funeral 
meals. {I}32_{/}With the 
garments taken from the 
gods the priests clothe 
their wives and their 
children. 
{I}33_{/}Whether they are 
treated well or shabbily, 
the gods can make no 
return, neither can they 
make or unmake a king. 
{I}34_{/}They are 
incapable of bestowing 
riches or money. If 
someone fails to keep a 
vow, he is not called to 
account. {I}35_{/}They 
can neither save a man 
from death nor rescue a 
helpless person from the 
clutch of the powerful. 
{I}36_{/}They cannot 
restore sight to the 
blind or save someone in 
distress. {I}37_{/}They 
will show no compassion 
to the widow nor do good 
to the orphan.
{I}38_{/}These pieces of 
wood plated with gold and 
silver are no more worthy 
than rocks hewn out of a 
mountain and their 
worshipers shall be 
humiliated. {I}39_{/}How 
then can anyone believe 
they are gods? How can 
they be called gods?
{I}40_{/}The Chaldeans 
themselves have put them 
to shame. If they see 
someone who is dumb, 
unable to speak, they 
bring him before Bel, 
entreating him to make 
him speak, as if the god 
could hear them! 
{I}41_{/}And yet these 
thinking people are 
unable to abandon gods 
that are completely 
devoid of sense. 
{I}42_{/}Women with cord 
round their waists sit in 
the street burning bran. 
{I}43_{/}When one of them 
has been picked up by a 
passerby and has slept 
with him, she taunts her 
companion for not having 
been so highly regarded 
as herself and for 
failing to have her cord 
broken. {I}44_{/}All that 
goes on anywhere near 
these gods is false. How 
can they be considered or 
declared to be gods?
{I}45_{/}They have been 
fashioned by craftsmen 
and goldsmiths; they are 
nothing more than what 
the artisans decided they 
were to be. 
{I}46_{/}Those who made 
them haven't long to 
live; so how could the 
work of their hands be 
gods? {I}47_{/}What they 
leave to their 
descendants is nothing 
more than illusion and 
shame.
{I}48_{/}For when war or 
other disasters come upon 
them, they discuss among 
themselves where they, 
with their gods, will 
hide. {I}49_{/}How could 
anyone fail to be 
convinced that what 
cannot save from war and 
disaster is not a god? 
{I}50_{/}Later on, these 
pieces of wood plated 
with silver and gold will 
be known to be false. It 
will be plain to all 
kings and nations that 
they are not gods, but 
merely the handicraft of 
men and God does nothing 
through them. {I}51_{/}Is 
there anyone unconvinced 
that these are not gods?
{I}52_{/}They are 
incapable of establishing 
a king in a country or of 
sending rain to people. 
{I}53_{/}They are unable 
to discern what is just 
or to rescue a person who 
has been wronged. They 
are as helpless as crows 
between the sky and the 
ground. {I}54_{/}When 
fire breaks out in the 
temple of these wooden 
gods plated with silver 
and gold, the priests 
flee to safety but their 
gods are burnt with the 
beams in the midst of the 
flames. {I}55_{/}They can 
neither resist a king nor 
a hostile army. 
{I}56_{/}How can it be 
admitted or believed that 
they are gods?
{I}57_{/}These gods 
cannot escape either from 
thieves or brigands. 
These are more powerful 
and despoil them of their 
gold, their silver and 
their robes. Such gods 
are unable to defend 
themselves.
{I}58_{/}Better to be a 
king with a show of 
power, or even a 
household pot that is of 
some use to its owner 
than to be a false god; 
better even to be the 
door of a house that 
guards what is within, or 
a wooden column in a 
royal palace than to be a 
false god. {I}59_{/}The 
sun, moon and stars that 
shine and serve us are 
obedient to God; 
{I}60_{/}likewise the 
lightning that is 
beautiful to see, and the 
wind that blows over the 
country {I}61_{/}and the 
clouds passing over the 
earth at God's command, 
fire sent from on high to 
consume mountain and 
forest - all do what is 
commanded. {I}62_{/}But 
these wooden objects can 
in no way compare with 
them, {I}63_{/}that is 
why it must not be either 
believed or said that 
these are gods, since 
they are powerless to 
administer justice or 
benefit mankind in any 
way. {I}64_{/}Since you 
know they are not gods, 
have no fear of them.
{I}65_{/}They can neither 
curse {I}66_{/}nor bless 
kings, nor bring about 
signs in the heavens for 
the nations to see. They 
can neither shine like 
the sun nor give light 
like the moon. 
{I}67_{/}Animals are of 
more worth, since by 
taking cover they can 
look after themselves. 
{I}68_{/}So in no way 
whatever is it evident to 
us that these are gods; 
for that reason have no 
fear of them.
{I}69_{/}For like a 
scarecrow in a field of 
melons, these gods plated 
with silver and gold 
protect nothing. 
{I}70_{/}Again these 
wooden gods may be 
compared to a thornbush 
in a garden where any 
bird can perch, or to a 
corpse thrown into a dark 
place. {I}71_{/}You know 
by the purple and scarlet 
robes rotting on them 
that they are not gods. 
They end up by being 
eaten away and become a 
disgrace to the country. 
{I}72_{/}Better then a 
just man who has no 
idols, he will not be 
dishonored.

