Jeremiah 17:5

TRUSTING IN MEN IS CURSED

"Thus saith Jehovah, Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

"Cursed is the man that trusteth in man ..." (Jeremiah 17:5). Although the beautiful contrast given here between the fate of the wicked man and the righteous man, is applicable in all generations; nevertheless, it appears that the scholars are correct who see in this warning a special message for Judah in the days of Jehoiachim, who, when threatened with the Chaldean invasion, were tempted to look to the king of Egypt for protection, instead of trusting God.[12]

"Like the heath ..." (Jeremiah 17:6). The Anchor Bible renders this, "like a desert scrub"; and some renditions favor, "like a juniper"; "the true rendition of the word is "like a destitute man."[13] The translators who change the meaning are influenced by the parallelism with 5:8, where the word "tree" is used.

Of course, the whole passage closely resembles Psalms 1.