Baruch 6

NEW JERUSALEM	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 'Because of the sins which you have committed before God you are to be deported to Babylon byNebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians.	1 A copy of a letter which Jeremiah sent to those who were to be taken to Babylon as captives by the king of the Babylonians, to give them the message which God had commanded him.
2 Once you have reached Babylon you wil stay there for many years, as long as seven generations; afterwhich I shall bring you home in peace.	2 Because of the sins which you have committed before God, you will be taken to Babylon as captives by Nebuchadnezzar, king of the Babylonians.
3 Now in Babylon you wil see gods made of silver, of gold, of wood, being carried shoulder-high, andfilling the gentiles with fear.	3 Therefore when you have come to Babylon you will remain there for many years, for a long time, up to seven generations; after that I will bring you away from there in peace.
4 Be on your guard! Do not imitate the foreigners, do not have any fear of their gods	4 Now in Babylon you will see gods made of silver and gold and wood, which are carried on men's shoulders and inspire fear in the heathen.
5 as you see their worshippers prostrating themselves before and behind them. Instead, say in yourhearts, "Master, it is you that we must worship."	5 So take care not to become at all like the foreigners or to let fear for these gods possess you, when you see the multitude before and behind them worshiping them.
6 For my angel is with you; your lives wil be in his care.	6 But say in your heart, "It is thou, O Lord, whom we must worship."
7 'Overlaid with gold and silver, their tongues polished smooth by a craftsman, they are counterfeit andhave no power to speak.	7 For my angel is with you, and he is watching your lives.
8 As though for a girl fond of finery, these people take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods.	8 Their tongues are smoothed by the craftsman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and silver; but they are false and cannot speak.
9 And sometimes, the priests filch gold and silver from their gods to spend on themselves, even givingsome of it to the prostitutes on the terrace.	9 People take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods, as they would for a girl who loves ornaments;
10 They dress up these gods of silver, gold and wood, in clothes, like human beings; on their own theycannot protect themselves from either tarnish or woodworm;	10 and sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their gods and spend it upon themselves,
11 when they have been dressed in purple cloaks, their faces have to be dusted, because of the templedust which settles thick on them.	11 and even give some of it to the harlots in the brothel. They deck their gods out with garments like men--these gods of silver and gold and wood,
12 One holds a sceptre like the governor of a province, yet is powerless to put to death anyone whooffends him;	12 which cannot save themselves from rust and corrosion. When they have been dressed in purple robes,
13 another holds sword and mace in his right hand, yet is powerless to defend himself against war orthieves.	13 their faces are wiped because of the dust from the temple, which is thick upon them.
14 From this it is evident that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.	14 Like a local ruler the god holds a scepter, though unable to destroy any one who offends it.
15 'Just as a pot in common use becomes useless once it is broken, so are these gods enshrined insidetheir temples.	15 It has a dagger in its right hand, and has an axe; but it cannot save itself from war and robbers.
16 Their eyes are ful of dust raised by the feet of those who enter.	16 Therefore they evidently are not gods; so do not fear them.
17 Just as the doors are locked on al sides on someone who has offended a king and is under sentenceof death, so the priests secure the temples of these gods with gates and bolts and bars for fear of burglary.	17 For just as one's dish is useless when it is broken, so are the gods of the heathen, when they have been set up in the temples. Their eyes are full of the dust raised by the feet of those who enter.
18 They light more lamps for them than they do for themselves, and the gods see none of them.	18 And just as the gates are shut on every side upon a man who has offended a king, as though he were sentenced to death, so the priests make their temples secure with doors and locks and bars, in order that they may not be plundered by robbers.
19 They are like one of the temple beams, which are said to be gnawed away from within; the termitescreep out of the ground and eat them and their clothes too, and they feel nothing.	19 They light lamps, even more than they light for themselves, though their gods can see none of them.
20 Their faces are blackened by the smoke that rises from the temple.	20 They are just like a beam of the temple, but men say their hearts have melted, when worms from the earth devour them and their robes. They do not notice
21 Bats, swal ows, birds of every kind perch on their bodies and heads, and so do cats.	21 when their faces have been blackened by the smoke of the temple.
22 From this, you can see for yourselves that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.	22 Bats, swallows, and birds light on their bodies and heads; and so do cats.
23 'The gold with which they are parading their futility before the world is supposed to make them lookbeautiful, but if someone does not rub off the tarnish, these gods wil not be shining much on their own, and evenwhile they were being cast, they felt nothing.	23 From this you will know that they are not gods; so do not fear them.
24 However much was paid for them, there is still no breath of life in them.	24 As for the gold which they wear for beauty--they will not shine unless some one wipes off the rust; for even when they were being cast, they had no feeling.
25 Being unable to walk, they have to be carried on men's shoulders, which shows how futile they are. Itis humiliating for their worshippers, too, who have to stand them up again if they fal over.	25 They are bought at any cost, but there is no breath in them.
26 Once they have been stood up, they cannot move on their own; if they tilt askew, they cannot rightthemselves; offerings made to them might as wel be made to the dead.	26 Having no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, revealing to mankind their worthlessness.
27 Whatever is sacrificed to them, the priests re-sel and pocket the profit; while their wives salt down partof it, but give nothing to the poor or to the helpless. As to the sacrifices themselves, why, women during theirperiods and women in childbed are not afraid to touch them!	27 And those who serve them are ashamed because through them these gods are made to stand, lest they fall to the ground. If any one sets one of them upright, it cannot move itself; and if it is tipped over, it cannot straighten itself; but gifts are placed before them just as before the dead.
28 From all this you can tel that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.	28 The priests sell the sacrifices that are offered to these gods and use the money; and likewise their wives preserve some with salt, but give none to the poor or helpless.
29 'Indeed, how can they even be cal ed gods, when women do the offering to these gods of silver, goldand wood?	29 Sacrifices to them may be touched by women in menstruation or at childbirth. Since you know by these things that they are not gods, do not fear them.
30 In their temples, the priests stay sitting down, their garments torn, heads and beard shaved and headsuncovered;	30 For why should they be called gods? Women serve meals for gods of silver and gold and wood;
31 they roar and shriek before their gods as people do at funeral feasts.	31 and in their temples the priests sit with their clothes rent, their heads and beards shaved, and their heads uncovered.
32 The priests take robes from the gods to clothe their own wives and children.	32 They howl and shout before their gods as some do at a funeral feast for a man who has died.
33 Whether these gods are treated badly or well, they are incapable of paying back either treatment; asincapable too of making or unmaking kings,	33 The priests take some of the clothing of their gods to clothe their wives and children.
34 equal y incapable of distributing wealth or money. If anyone fails to honour a vow he has made tothem, they cannot cal him to account.	34 Whether one does evil to them or good, they will not be able to repay it. They cannot set up a king or depose one.
35 They can neither save anyone from death nor rescue the weak from the strong,	35 Likewise they are not able to give either wealth or money; if one makes a vow to them and does not keep it, they will not require it.
36 nor restore sight to the blind, nor save anyone in trouble,	36 They cannot save a man from death or rescue the weak from the strong.
37 nor take pity on a widow, nor be generous to an orphan.	37 They cannot restore sight to a blind man; they cannot rescue a man who is in distress.
38 These wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are about as much use as rocks cut out of themountain side. Their worshippers wil be confounded!	38 They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan.
39 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?	39 These things that are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver are like stones from the mountain, and those who serve them will be put to shame.
40 'The Chaldaeans themselves do them no honour; if they find someone who is dumb and cannot speak,they present him to Bel, entreating him for the gift of speech, as though he could perceive it!	40 Why then must any one think that they are gods, or call them gods? Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them;
41 And they are incapable of drawing the conclusion and abandoning those gods -- such is their lack ofperception.	41 for when they see a dumb man, who cannot speak, they bring him and pray Bel that the man may speak, as though Bel were able to understand.
42 Women with strings round their waists sit in the streets, burning bran like incense;	42 Yet they themselves cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they have no sense.
43 when one of these has been picked up by a passer-by and been to bed with him, she then gloats overher neighbour for not having been thought as worthy as herself and for not having had her string broken.	43 And the women, with cords about them, sit along the passageways, burning bran for incense; and when one of them is led off by one of the passers-by and is lain with, she derides the woman next to her, because she was not as attractive as herself and her cord was not broken.
44 Whatever is done for them is spurious. So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?	44 Whatever is done for them is false. Why then must any one think that they are gods, or call them gods?
45 'Made by woodworkers and goldsmiths, they are only what those workmen decide to make them.	45 They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but what the craftsmen wish them to be.
46 Their makers have not long to live themselves, so how can the things they make be gods?	46 The men that make them will certainly not live very long themselves; how then can the things that are made by them be gods?
47 Their legacy to their descendants is nothing but delusion and dishonour.	47 They have left only lies and reproach for those who come after.
48 If war or disasters befal them, the priests discuss where best to hide themselves and these gods;	48 For when war or calamity comes upon them, the priests consult together as to where they can hide themselves and their gods.
49 how can anyone fail to realise that they are not gods, if they cannot save themselves from war or fromdisasters?	49 How then can one fail to see that these are not gods, for they cannot save themselves from war or calamity?
50 And since they are only made of wood overlaid with gold or silver, it wil later become apparent thatthey are spurious; it wil be obvious to everyone, to nations as to kings, that they are not gods but the work ofhuman hands, and that there is no divine activity in them.	50 Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will afterward be known that they are false.
51 Does anyone still need convincing that they are not gods?	51 It will be manifest to all the nations and kings that they are not gods but the work of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.
52 'They can neither appoint a king over a country, nor give rain to humankind,	52 Who then can fail to know that they are not gods?
53 nor regulate their own affairs, nor rescue anyone who suffers a wrong; they are as helpless as crowsbetween sky and ground.	53 For they cannot set up a king over a country or give rain to men.
54 If fire fal s on the temple of these wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests fly to safetywhile they for their part stay there like beams, to be burnt.	54 They cannot judge their own cause or deliver one who is wronged, for they have no power; they are like crows between heaven and earth.
55 They cannot put up any resistance to a king or to enemies.	55 When fire breaks out in a temple of wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver, their priests will flee and escape, but the gods will be burnt in two like beams.
56 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?	56 Besides, they can offer no resistance to a king or any enemies. Why then must any one admit or think that they are gods?
57 'These wooden gods overlaid with gold or silver cannot evade thieves or marauders; strong men mayrob them of their gold and silver and make off with the robes they are dressed in; yet they are powerless to helpeven themselves.	57 Gods made of wood and overlaid with silver and gold are not able to save themselves from thieves and robbers.
58 Better to be a king displaying his prowess, a household pot of use to its owner, than to be thesecounterfeit gods; or merely the door of a house, protecting what is inside, than these counterfeit gods; or awooden pil ar in a palace than these counterfeit gods.	58 Strong men will strip them of their gold and silver and of the robes they wear, and go off with this booty, and they will not be able to help themselves.
59 The sun, the moon and the stars, which shine and have been given work to do, are obedient;	59 So it is better to be a king who shows his courage, or a household utensil that serves its owner's need, than to be these false gods; better even the door of a house that protects its contents, than these false gods; better also a wooden pillar in a palace, than these false gods.
60 similarly, the lightning, as it flashes, is a fine sight; in the same way, the wind blows across everycountry,	60 For sun and moon and stars, shining and sent forth for service, are obedient.
61 the clouds execute the order God gives them to pass over the whole earth, and the fire, sent fromabove to consume mountain and forest, carries out its orders.	61 So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind likewise blows in every land.
62 Now these gods are not their equals, either in beauty or in power.	62 When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they carry out his command.
63 So, no one can think or say that they are gods, powerless as they are to administer justice or to doanyone any good.	63 And the fire sent from above to consume mountains and woods does what it is ordered. But these idols are not to be compared with them in appearance or power.
64 Therefore, knowing that they are not gods, do not be afraid of them.	64 Therefore one must not think that they are gods nor call them gods, for they are not able either to decide a case or to do good to men.
65 'For they can neither curse nor bless kings,	65 Since you know then that they are not gods, do not fear them.
66 nor produce signs in heaven for the nations, nor shine like the sun, nor shed light like the moon.	66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings;
67 The animals are better off than they are, being able to look after themselves by making for cover.	67 they cannot show signs in the heavens and among the nations, or shine like the sun or give light like the moon.
68 There is not the slightest shred of evidence that they are gods; so do not be afraid of them!	68 The wild beasts are better than they are, for they can flee to cover and help themselves.
69 'Their wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are like a scarecrow in a field of cucumbers --protecting nothing.	69 So we have no evidence whatever that they are gods; therefore do not fear them.
70 Or again, their wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are like a thorn-bush in a garden -- any kind of bird may perch on it -- or like a corpse thrown out into the dark.	70 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber bed, that guards nothing, so are their gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver.
71 From the purple and linen rotting on their backs you can tell that they are not gods; and in the end,eaten away, they wil be the dishonour of the country.	71 In the same way, their gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver, and like a thorn bush in a garden, on which every bird sits; or like a dead body cast out in the darkness.
72 Better, then, someone upright who has no idols; dishonour wil never come near him.'	72 By the purple and linen that rot upon them you will know that they are not gods; and they will finally themselves be consumed, and be a reproach in the land.
	73 Better therefore is a just man who has no idols, for he will be far from reproach.