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

Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.

2 T he Lord says, “Do not learn the way of the nations. And do not be afraid of the things seen in the heavens, even if the nations are afraid of them.

Thus says the Lord: “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 F or the ways of the people are of no use. They cut wood from the trees. A workman cuts it with an ax.

For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

4 T hey make it beautiful with silver and gold. They put it together with nails so that it cannot fall apart.

They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple.

5 T heir false gods are like a wooden man set up in a vegetable field to make birds be afraid and stay away. They cannot speak. They must be carried, because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot hurt you. And they cannot help you.”

They are upright, like a palm tree, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot go by themselves. Do not be afraid of them, For they cannot do evil, Nor can they do any good.”

6 T here is no one like You, O Lord. You are great, and Your name is great in power.

Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, and Your name is great in might),

7 W ho would not fear You, O King of the nations? For You should be honored with fear. Among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their lands, there is no one like You.

Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? For this is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations, And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.

8 T hey are all poor thinkers and foolish. What can they learn from a false god of wood?

But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.

9 B eaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of an able workman and of one who works with gold. Their clothing is blue and purple. They are all the work of able workmen.

Silver is beaten into plates; It is brought from Tarshish, And gold from Uphaz, The work of the craftsman And of the hands of the metalsmith; Blue and purple are their clothing; They are all the work of skillful men.

10 B ut the Lord is the true God. He is the living God and the King Who lives forever. The earth shakes at His anger. And the nations cannot last when He is angry.

But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth will tremble, And the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.

11 T his is what you should say to them: “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will be destroyed from the earth and from under the heavens.” A Song of Praise

Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

12 I t is He Who made the earth by His power, and the world by His wisdom. By His understanding He has spread out the heavens.

He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion.

13 W hen He speaks, there is a storm of waters in the heavens. He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and brings out the wind from His store-houses.

When He utters His voice, There is a 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 E very man is a poor thinker and without learning. Every one who works with gold is put to shame by his false gods. For his objects of worship fool people. There is no breath in them.

Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them.

15 T hey are without worth, and make fun of the truth. In the time of their punishment, they will be destroyed.

They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish.

16 H e Who is the God of Jacob is not like these, for He has made all things. And Israel is His chosen family. The Lord of All is His name. People of Jerusalem Will Be Taken Away

The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The Lord of hosts is His name. The Coming Captivity of Judah

17 P ick up your load from the ground, you who are shut in by armies!

Gather up your wares from the land, O inhabitant of the fortress!

18 F or the Lord says, “See, I am throwing out the people of the land at this time. And I will trouble them, that they may feel it.”

For thus says the Lord: “Behold, I will throw out at this time The inhabitants of the land, And will distress them, That they may find it so. ”

19 I t is bad for me because I am hurt! My sore cannot be healed. But I said, “For sure this sickness is mine, and I must suffer with it.”

Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is severe. But I say, “Truly this is an infirmity, And I must bear it.”

20 M y tent is destroyed and all my ropes are broken. My sons have gone from me and are no more. There is no one to put up my tent again or to set up my curtains.

My tent is plundered, And all my cords are broken; My children have gone from me, And they are no more. There is no one to pitch my tent anymore, Or set up my curtains.

21 F or the shepherds are poor thinkers and have not asked for the Lord’s help. So they have not done well, and all their flock is sent different places.

For the shepherds have become dull-hearted, And have not sought the Lord; Therefore they shall not prosper, And all their flocks shall be scattered.

22 L isten, the sound of news! See, it comes! Much noise of moving is coming out of the land of the north to destroy the cities of Judah, and to make it a place where wild dogs live. Jeremiah’s Prayer

Behold, the noise of the report has come, And a great commotion out of the north country, To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals.

23 O Lord, I know that a man’s way is not known by himself. It is not in man to lead his own steps.

O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

24 P unish me when I need it, O Lord, but be fair. Do not punish me in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing.

O Lord, correct me, but with justice; Not in Your anger, lest You bring me to nothing.

25 P our out Your anger on the nations that do not know You, and on the families that do not call on Your name. For they have destroyed Jacob. They have destroyed him and have laid waste his land.

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.