Baruch 6

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW JERUSALEM
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.	1 'Because of the sins which you have committed before God you are to be deported to Babylon byNebuchadnezzar king of the Babylonians.
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.	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.
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.	3 Now in Babylon you wil see gods made of silver, of gold, of wood, being carried shoulder-high, andfilling the gentiles with fear.
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.	4 Be on your guard! Do not imitate the foreigners, do not have any fear of their gods
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.	5 as you see their worshippers prostrating themselves before and behind them. Instead, say in yourhearts, "Master, it is you that we must worship."
6 But say in your heart, "It is thou, O Lord, whom we must worship."	6 For my angel is with you; your lives wil be in his care.
7 For my angel is with you, and he is watching your lives.	7 'Overlaid with gold and silver, their tongues polished smooth by a craftsman, they are counterfeit andhave no power to speak.
8 Their tongues are smoothed by the craftsman, and they themselves are overlaid with gold and silver; but they are false and cannot speak.	8 As though for a girl fond of finery, these people take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods.
9 People take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods, as they would for a girl who loves ornaments;	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.
10 and sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their gods and spend it upon themselves,	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;
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,	11 when they have been dressed in purple cloaks, their faces have to be dusted, because of the templedust which settles thick on them.
12 which cannot save themselves from rust and corrosion. When they have been dressed in purple robes,	12 One holds a sceptre like the governor of a province, yet is powerless to put to death anyone whooffends him;
13 their faces are wiped because of the dust from the temple, which is thick upon them.	13 another holds sword and mace in his right hand, yet is powerless to defend himself against war orthieves.
14 Like a local ruler the god holds a scepter, though unable to destroy any one who offends it.	14 From this it is evident that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.
15 It has a dagger in its right hand, and has an axe; but it cannot save itself from war and robbers.	15 'Just as a pot in common use becomes useless once it is broken, so are these gods enshrined insidetheir temples.
16 Therefore they evidently are not gods; so do not fear them.	16 Their eyes are ful of dust raised by the feet of those who enter.
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.	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.
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.	18 They light more lamps for them than they do for themselves, and the gods see none of them.
19 They light lamps, even more than they light for themselves, though their gods can see none of them.	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.
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	20 Their faces are blackened by the smoke that rises from the temple.
21 when their faces have been blackened by the smoke of the temple.	21 Bats, swal ows, birds of every kind perch on their bodies and heads, and so do cats.
22 Bats, swallows, and birds light on their bodies and heads; and so do cats.	22 From this, you can see for yourselves that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.
23 From this you will know that they are not gods; so do not fear them.	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.
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.	24 However much was paid for them, there is still no breath of life in them.
25 They are bought at any cost, but there is no breath in them.	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.
26 Having no feet, they are carried on men's shoulders, revealing to mankind their worthlessness.	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.
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.	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!
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.	28 From all this you can tel that they are not gods; do not be afraid of them.
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.	29 'Indeed, how can they even be cal ed gods, when women do the offering to these gods of silver, goldand wood?
30 For why should they be called gods? Women serve meals for gods of silver and gold and wood;	30 In their temples, the priests stay sitting down, their garments torn, heads and beard shaved and headsuncovered;
31 and in their temples the priests sit with their clothes rent, their heads and beards shaved, and their heads uncovered.	31 they roar and shriek before their gods as people do at funeral feasts.
32 They howl and shout before their gods as some do at a funeral feast for a man who has died.	32 The priests take robes from the gods to clothe their own wives and children.
33 The priests take some of the clothing of their gods to clothe their wives and children.	33 Whether these gods are treated badly or well, they are incapable of paying back either treatment; asincapable too of making or unmaking kings,
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.	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.
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.	35 They can neither save anyone from death nor rescue the weak from the strong,
36 They cannot save a man from death or rescue the weak from the strong.	36 nor restore sight to the blind, nor save anyone in trouble,
37 They cannot restore sight to a blind man; they cannot rescue a man who is in distress.	37 nor take pity on a widow, nor be generous to an orphan.
38 They cannot take pity on a widow or do good to an orphan.	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!
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.	39 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?
40 Why then must any one think that they are gods, or call them gods? Besides, even the Chaldeans themselves dishonor them;	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!
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.	41 And they are incapable of drawing the conclusion and abandoning those gods -- such is their lack ofperception.
42 Yet they themselves cannot perceive this and abandon them, for they have no sense.	42 Women with strings round their waists sit in the streets, burning bran like incense;
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.	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.
44 Whatever is done for them is false. Why then must any one think that they are gods, or call them gods?	44 Whatever is done for them is spurious. So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?
45 They are made by carpenters and goldsmiths; they can be nothing but what the craftsmen wish them to be.	45 'Made by woodworkers and goldsmiths, they are only what those workmen decide to make them.
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?	46 Their makers have not long to live themselves, so how can the things they make be gods?
47 They have left only lies and reproach for those who come after.	47 Their legacy to their descendants is nothing but delusion and dishonour.
48 For when war or calamity comes upon them, the priests consult together as to where they can hide themselves and their gods.	48 If war or disasters befal them, the priests discuss where best to hide themselves and these gods;
49 How then can one fail to see that these are not gods, for they cannot save themselves from war or calamity?	49 how can anyone fail to realise that they are not gods, if they cannot save themselves from war or fromdisasters?
50 Since they are made of wood and overlaid with gold and silver, it will afterward be known that they are false.	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.
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.	51 Does anyone still need convincing that they are not gods?
52 Who then can fail to know that they are not gods?	52 'They can neither appoint a king over a country, nor give rain to humankind,
53 For they cannot set up a king over a country or give rain to men.	53 nor regulate their own affairs, nor rescue anyone who suffers a wrong; they are as helpless as crowsbetween sky and ground.
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.	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.
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.	55 They cannot put up any resistance to a king or to enemies.
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?	56 So how can anyone think or say that they are gods?
57 Gods made of wood and overlaid with silver and gold are not able to save themselves from thieves and robbers.	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.
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.	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.
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.	59 The sun, the moon and the stars, which shine and have been given work to do, are obedient;
60 For sun and moon and stars, shining and sent forth for service, are obedient.	60 similarly, the lightning, as it flashes, is a fine sight; in the same way, the wind blows across everycountry,
61 So also the lightning, when it flashes, is widely seen; and the wind likewise blows in every land.	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.
62 When God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they carry out his command.	62 Now these gods are not their equals, either in beauty or in power.
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.	63 So, no one can think or say that they are gods, powerless as they are to administer justice or to doanyone any good.
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.	64 Therefore, knowing that they are not gods, do not be afraid of them.
65 Since you know then that they are not gods, do not fear them.	65 'For they can neither curse nor bless kings,
66 For they can neither curse nor bless kings;	66 nor produce signs in heaven for the nations, nor shine like the sun, nor shed light like the moon.
67 they cannot show signs in the heavens and among the nations, or shine like the sun or give light like the moon.	67 The animals are better off than they are, being able to look after themselves by making for cover.
68 The wild beasts are better than they are, for they can flee to cover and help themselves.	68 There is not the slightest shred of evidence that they are gods; so do not be afraid of them!
69 So we have no evidence whatever that they are gods; therefore do not fear them.	69 'Their wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver are like a scarecrow in a field of cucumbers --protecting nothing.
70 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber bed, that guards nothing, so are their gods of wood, overlaid with gold and silver.	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.
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.	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.
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.	72 Better, then, someone upright who has no idols; dishonour wil never come near him.'
73 Better therefore is a just man who has no idols, for he will be far from reproach.