Idols and the True God
1 Hear the word which theLordspeaks to you, O house of Israel.
2 Thus says theLord:
# “Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;
Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,
For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3 For the customs of the peoplesarefutile;
# Foronecuts a tree from the forest,
The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 They decorate it with silver and gold;
# Theyfasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple.
5 Theyareupright, like a palm tree,
# Andthey cannot speak;
# They must becarried,
Because they cannot gobythemselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
# Forthey cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.”
6 Inasmuch asthereisnonelike You, OLord
(Youaregreat, and Your nameisgreat in might),
7 Who would not fear You, O King of the nations?
For this is Your rightful due.
# Foramong all the wisemenof the nations,
And in all their kingdoms,
Thereisnone like You.
8 But they are altogetherdull-hearted and foolish;
A wooden idolisa worthless doctrine.
9 Silver is beaten into plates;
It is brought from Tarshish,
# Andgold from Uphaz,
The work of the craftsman
And of the hands of the metalsmith;
Blue and purplearetheir clothing;
# Theyareallthe work of skillfulmen.
10 But theLordisthe true God;
# Heisthe living God and theeverlasting King.
At His wrath the earth will tremble,
And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
11 Thus you shall say to them:“The gods that have not made the heavens and the earthshall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”
12 Hehas made the earth by His power,
# He hasestablished the world by His wisdom,
# Andhas stretched out the heavens at His discretion.
13 When He utters His voice,
Thereisa multitude of waters in the heavens:
# “And He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain,
He brings the wind out of His treasuries.”
14 Everyone isdull-hearted, without knowledge;
# Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image;
# For his molded imageisfalsehood,
Andthereisno breath in them.
15 Theyarefutile, a work of errors;
In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
16 The Portion of Jacobisnot like them,
For Heisthe Maker of allthings,
# AndIsraelisthe tribe of His inheritance;
# TheLordof hostsisHis name.
The Coming Captivity of Judah
17 Gather up your wares from the land,
O inhabitant of the fortress!
18 For thus says theLord:
# “Behold, I willthrow out at this time
The inhabitants of the land,
And will distress them,
# That they may finditso.”
19 Woe is me for my hurt!
My wound is severe.
# But I say,“Truly thisisan infirmity,
# AndI must bear it.”
20 My tent is plundered,
And all my cords are broken;
My children have gone from me,
# And theyareno more.
Thereisno one to pitch my tent anymore,
Or set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds have become dull-hearted,
And have not sought theLord;
Therefore they shall not prosper,
# And all their flocks shall bescattered.
22 Behold, the noise of the report has come,
# And a great commotion out of thenorth country,
# To make the cities of Judah desolate, aden of jackals.
23 OLord, I know theway of manisnot in himself;
Itisnot in man who walks to direct his own steps.
24 OLord,correct me, but with justice;
Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.
25 Pour out Your fury on the Gentiles,who do not know You,
And on the families who do not call on Your name;
For they have eaten up Jacob,
# Devoured him and consumed him,
And made his dwelling place desolate.