The Skeptics Annotated Bible (579 page)

7
I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.

(12.7)
“I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.”

8
Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.

(12.8)
“Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.”

9 Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her;
come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.

(12.9)
“Come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.”

10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.

12 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for
the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace
.

(12.12)
“The sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.”
God’s sword will “devour” everyone until “no flesh shall have peace.”

13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

14 Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.

15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.

16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to
swear by my name
, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.

(12.16)
“Swear by my name.”
(Which one, Jealous or great in might?)
63 Is it OK to swear?.

17 But
if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.

(12.17)
“If they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.”

(13.1-7) God gives Jeremiah some divine instructions about a girdle. He tells him not to wash it, but to hide it in a rock. Jeremiah does as he’s told. But, alas, when he goes to retrieve it, it was ruined. Darn!

13
Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.

(13.1)
“Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.”

2
So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.

(13.2)
“So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.”

3
And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,

(13.3)
“And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,”

4
Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.

(13.4)
“Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.”

5
So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me
.

(13.5)
“So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.”

6
And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.

(13.6)
“And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.”

7
Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.

(13.7)
“Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.”

8 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

9 Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10
This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.

(13:10)
“This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.” Apparently, the point of the girdle story (13.1-7) was to say that worshipping other gods “is good for nothing.”