1 H ear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.

Hear the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel!

2 T hus says the Lord: Learn not the way of the nations and be not dismayed at the signs of the heavens, though they are dismayed at them,

Yahweh says, “Don’t learn the way of the nations, and don’t be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.

3 F or the customs and ordinances of the peoples are false, empty, and futile; it is but a tree which one cuts out of the forest, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the ax or other tool.

For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.

4 T hey deck with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers so it will not fall apart or move around.

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it not move.

5 a re like pillars of turned work, like scarecrows in a cucumber field; they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it possible for them to do good.

They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak: they must be carried, because they can’t go. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”

6 N one at all is like You, O Lord; You are great, and Your name is great in might.

There is no one like you, Yahweh; you are great, and your name is great in might.

7 W ho would not fear You, O King of the nations? For it is fitting to You and Your due! For among all the wise of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.

Who should not fear you, King of the nations? For it belongs to you; because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is no one like you.

8 B ut they are altogether irrational and stupid and foolish. Their instruction is given by idols who are but wood!

But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.

9 S ilver beaten is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; the clothing is violet and purple—they are all the work of skillful men.

There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skillful men.

10 B ut the Lord is the true God and the God of truth (the God Who is Truth). He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, and the nations are not able to bear His indignation.

But Yahweh is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembles, and the nations are not able to withstand his indignation.

11 T hus shall you say to them: The gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.

You shall say this to them: The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.

12 G od made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and by His understanding and skill stretched out the heavens.

He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens:

13 W hen He utters His voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind out from His treasuries and from His storehouses.

when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries.

14 E very man has become like a brute, irrational and stupid, without knowledge; every goldsmith is brought to shame by his graven idols; for his molten images are frauds and falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

Every man has become brutish and without knowledge; every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

15 T hey are devoid of worth, usefulness, or truth, a work of delusion and mockery; in their time of trial and punishment they shall perish.

They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

16 T he Portion of Jacob is not like these, for He is the Fashioner and Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—the Lord of hosts is His name.

The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Yahweh of Armies is his name.

17 G ather up your bundle from the ground, O you who dwell under siege.

Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege.

18 F or thus says the Lord: Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time and will bring distress on them, that they may feel it and find it.

For Yahweh says, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.

19 W oe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous and incurable. But I said, Surely this sickness and suffering and grief are mine, and I must endure, tolerate, and bear them.

Woe is me because of my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.

20 M y tent (home) is taken by force and plundered, and all my cords are broken. My children have gone forth from me, and they are no more; there is no one to stretch forth my tent any more and to set up my curtains.

My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken: my children have gone away from me, and they are no more. There is no one to spread my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

21 F or the shepherds have become like brutes, irrational and stupid, and have not sought the Lord or inquired of Him or required Him. Therefore they have not dealt prudently and have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

22 H ark, the sound of a rumor! comes!—a great commotion out of the north country—to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place of jackals.

The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place of jackals.

23 O Lord, I know that the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man to direct his steps.

Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

24 O Lord, correct, instruct, and chastise me, but with judgment and in just measure—not in Your anger, lest You diminish me and bring me to nothing.

Yahweh, correct me, but in measure: not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.

25 P our out Your wrath upon the nations that do not know or recognize You and upon the peoples that do not call upon Your name. For they have devoured Jacob, yes, devoured him and consumed him and made his habitation a desolate waste.

Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, and on the families that don’t call on your name: for they have devoured Jacob, yes, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.