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EPISTLE OF JEREMY

A copy of an epistle, which Jeremy sent to them which were to be led captives into Babylonby the king of the Babylonians, to certify them, as it was commanded him of God.Because of the sins which you⌃ have committed before God, you⌃ shall be led away captivesinto Babylon by Nabuchodonosor king of the Babylonians.So when you⌃ be come to Babylon, you⌃ shall remain there many years, and for a long season,namely, seven generations: and after that I will bring you away peaceably from thence.Now shall you⌃ see in Babylon gods of silver, and of gold, and of wood, borne upon shoulders,which cause the nations to fear.Beware therefore that you⌃ in no wise be like to strangers, neither be you⌃ and of them,when you⌃ see the multitude before them and behind them, worshipping them.But say you⌃ in your hearts, O Lord, we must worship you.For mine angel is with you, and I myself caring for your souls.As for their tongue, it is polished by the workman, and they themselves are gilded andlaid over with silver; yet are they but false, and can’t speak.And taking gold, as it were for a virgin that loves to go gay, they make crowns for theheads of their gods.Sometimes also the priests convey from their gods gold and silver, and bestow it uponthemselves.Yes, 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.Yet can’t these gods save themselves from rust and moth, though they be covered withpurple raiment.They wipe their faces because of the dust of the temple, when there is much upon them.And he that can’t put to death one that offends him holds a scepter, as though he werea judge of the country.He has also in his right hand a dagger and an axe: but can’t deliver himself from warand thieves.Whereby they are known not to be gods: therefore fear them not.For like as a vessel that a man uses is nothing worth when it is broken; even so it iswith their gods: when they be set up in the temple, their eyes be full of dust through the feet of themthat come in.And as the doors are made sure on every side upon him that offends the king, as beingcommitted to suffer death: even so the priests make fast their temples with doors, with locks, and bars,lest their gods be spoiled with robbers.They light them candles, yes, more than for themselves, whereof they can’t see one.They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed uponby things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.Their faces are blacked through the smoke that comes out of the temple.Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.By this you⌃ may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipeoff the rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare to men that they benothing worth.They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, theycan’t 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 to dead men.As for the things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse; in likemanner their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but to the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things you⌃ mayknow that they are no gods: fear them not.For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold,and wood.And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes tore, and their heads andbeards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.Whether it be evil that one does to them, or good, they are not able to recompense it:they can neither set up a king, nor put him down.In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow to them,and keep it not, they will not require it.They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.They can’t restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.They can show no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stonesthat be hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselvesdishonor them?Who if they shall see one dumb that can’t speak, they bring him, and entreat Bel thathe may speak, as though he were able to understand.Yet they can’t understand this themselves, and leave them: for they have no knowledge.The women also with cords about them, sitting in the ways, burn bran for perfume: butif any of them, drawn by some that passes by, lie with him, she reproaches her fellow, that she was notthought as worthy as herself, nor her cord broken.Whatsoever is done among them is false: how may it then be thought or said that theyare gods?They are made of carpenters and goldsmiths: they can be nothing else than the workmenwill have them to be.And they themselves that made them can never continue long; how should then the thingsthat are made of them be gods?For they left lies and reproaches to them that come after.For when there comes any war or plague upon them, the priests consult with themselves,where they may be hidden with them.How then can’t men perceive that they be no gods, which can neither save themselves fromwar, nor from plague?For seeing they be but of wood, and overlaid with silver and gold, it shall be knownhereafter that they are false:And it shall manifestly appear to all nations and kings that they are no gods, but theworks of men's hands, and that there is no work of God in them.Who then may not know that they are no gods?For neither can they set up a king in the land, nor give rain to men.Neither can they judge their own cause, nor redress a wrong, being unable: for they areas crows between heaven and earth.Whereupon when fire falls 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.Moreover they can’t withstand any king or enemies: how can it then be thought or saidthat they be gods?Neither are those gods of wood, and laid over with silver or gold, able to escape eitherfrom thieves or robbers.Whose gold, and silver, and garments wherewith they are clothed, they that are strongtake, and go away withal: neither are they able to help themselves.Therefore it is better to be a king that shows his power, or else a profitable vesselin an house, which the owner shall have use of, than such false gods; or to be a door in an house, tokeep such things therein, than such false gods. or a pillar of wood in a palace, than such false gods.For sun, moon, and stars, being bright and sent to do their offices, are obedient.In like manner the lightning when it breaks forth is easy to be seen; and after the samemanner the wind blows in every country.And when God commands the clouds to go over the whole world, they do as they are bidden.And the fire sent from above to consume hills and woods does as it is commanded: butthese are like to them neither in show nor power.Wherefore it is neither to be supposed nor said that they are gods, seeing, they areable neither to judge causes, nor to do good to men.Knowing therefore that they are no gods, fear them not,For they can neither curse nor bless kings:Neither can they show signs in the heavens among the heathen, nor shine as the sun, norgive light as the moon.The beasts are better than they: for they can get under a cover and help themselves.It is then by no means manifest to us that they are gods: therefore fear them not.For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keeps nothing: so are their gods of wood,and laid over with silver and gold.And likewise their gods of wood, and laid over with silver and gold, are like to a whitethorn in an orchard, that every bird sits upon; as also to a dead body, that is east into the dark.And you⌃ shall know them to be no gods by the bright purple that rots upon them: andthey themselves afterward shall be eaten, and shall be a reproach in the country.Better therefore is the just man that has none idols: for he shall be far from reproach.

PRAYER OF AZARIAS

‏ Prayer of Azariah

1Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst ofthe fire said, 2Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers: your name is worthy to be praised and glorifiedfor evermore: 3For you are righteous in all the things that you have done to us: yes, true are all yourworks, your ways are right, and all your judgments truth. 4In all the things that you have brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers,even Jerusalem, you have executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment did you bring allthese things upon us because of our sins. 5For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from you. 6In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed your commandments, nor kept them, neitherdone as you have commanded us, that it might go well with us. 7Wherefore all that you have brought upon us, and every thing that you have done to us,you have done in true judgment. 8And you did deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God,and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world. 9And now we can’t open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to your servants;and to them that worship you. 10Yet deliver us not up wholly, for your name's sake, neither disannul you your covenant: 11And cause not your mercy to depart from us, for your beloved Abraham's sake, for yourservant Isaac's sake, and for your holy Israel's sake; 12To whom you have spoken and promised, that you would multiply their seed as the starsof heaven, and as the sand that lies upon the seashore. 13For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all theworld because of our sins. 14Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice,or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before you, and to find mercy. 15Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted. 16Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands offat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in your sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after you:for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in you. 17And now we follow you with all our heart, we fear you, and seek your face. 18Put us not to shame: but deal with us after your lovingkindness, and according to themultitude of your mercies. 19Deliver us also according to your marvelous works, and give glory to your name, O Lord:and let all them that do your servants hurt be ashamed; 20And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken; 21And let them know that you are God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world. 22And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin,pitch, tow, and small wood; 23So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits. 24And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace. 25But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows,and struck the flame of the fire out of the oven; 26And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that thefire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them. 27Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace,saying, 28Blessed are you, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all forever. 29And blessed is your glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all forever. 30Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory: and to be praised and glorified aboveall for ever. 31Blessed are you that behold the depths, and sit upon the cherubims: and to be praisedand exalted above all for ever. 32Blessed are you on the glorious throne of your kingdom: and to be praised and glorifiedabove all for ever. 33Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorifiedfor ever. 34O all you⌃ works of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever, 35O you⌃ heavens, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 36O you⌃ angels of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 37O all you⌃ waters that be above the heaven, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt himabove all for ever. 38O all you⌃ powers of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 39O you⌃ sun and moon, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 40O you⌃ stars of heaven, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 41O every shower and dew, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 42O all you⌃ winds, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever, 43O you⌃ fire and heat, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 44O you⌃ winter and summer, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 45O you⌃ dews and storms of snow, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 46O you⌃ nights and days, bless you⌃ the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever. 47O you⌃ light and darkness, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 48O you⌃ ice and cold, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 49O you⌃ frost and snow, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 50O you⌃ lightnings and clouds, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 51O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 52O you⌃ mountains and little hills, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above allfor ever. 53O all you⌃ things that grow in the earth, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him aboveall for ever. 54O you⌃ mountains, bless you⌃ the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever. 55O you⌃ seas and rivers, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 56O you⌃ whales, and all that move in the waters, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalthim above all for ever. 57O all you⌃ fowls of the air, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 58O all you⌃ beasts and cattle, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 59O you⌃ children of men, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 60O Israel, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 61O you⌃ priests of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. 62O you⌃ servants of the Lord, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever. 63O you⌃ spirits and souls of the righteous, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt himabove all for ever. 64O you⌃ holy and humble men of heart, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him aboveall for ever. 65O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless you⌃ the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever: for he has delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out ofthe midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire has he delivered us. 66O give thanks to the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endures for ever. 67O all you⌃ that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks:for his mercy endures for ever.