Baruch 6:57-72

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

⁵⁷ Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they help themselves.

⁵⁸ Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe that are therein, than such false gods.

⁵⁹ The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, are obedient.

⁶⁰ In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country.

⁶¹ And the clouds when God commandeth them to go over the whole world, do that which is commanded them.

⁶² The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in power are like to any one of them.

⁶³ Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any good to men.

⁶⁴ Knowing therefore that they are not gods, fear them not.

⁶⁵ For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them.

⁶⁶ Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon.

⁶⁷ Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and help themselves.

⁶⁸ Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so fear them not.

⁶⁹ For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold.

⁷⁰ They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark.

⁷¹ By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country.

⁷² Better therefore is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach.