Jeremiah, 10

1. Listen, House of Israel, to the word that Yahweh addresses to you. Yahweh says this:

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

2. 'Do not learn the ways of the nations or take alarm at the heavenly signs, alarmed though the nations may be at them.

2. Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them,

3. Yes, the customs of the peoples are quite futile: wood, nothing more, cut out of a forest, worked with a blade by a carver's hand,

3. for the customs of the peoples are false. A tree from the forest is cut down, and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

4. then embellished with silver and gold, then fastened with hammer and nails to keep it from moving.

4. Men deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.

5. Like scarecrows in a melon patch, they cannot talk, they have to be carried, since they cannot walk. Have no fear of them: they can do no harm -- nor any good either!'

5. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good."

6. Yahweh, there is no one like you, so great you are, so great your mighty name.

6. There is none like thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

7. Who would not revere you, King of nations? Yes, this is your due. Since of all the wise among the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is not a single one like you.

7. Who would not fear thee, O King of the nations? For this is thy due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like thee.

8. All of them are brutish and stupid: the Futile Ones' teaching is but wood,

8. They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!

9. silver leaf imported from Tarshish and gold from Ophir, the work of carver or goldsmith; then dressed up in violet and purple, all the work of skilled men.

9. Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; they are all the work of skilled men.

10. But Yahweh is the true God. He is the living God, the everlasting King. The earth quakes when he is wrathful, the nations cannot endure his fury.

10. But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

11. 'Tell them this, "The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth will vanish from the earth and from under these heavens." '

11. Thus 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."

12. By his power he made the earth, by his wisdom set the world firm, but his discernment spread out the heavens.

12. It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

13. When he thunders there is a roaring of waters in heaven; he raises clouds from the remotest parts of the earth, makes the lightning flash for the downpour, and brings the wind from his storehouse.

13. When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

14. At this all people stand stupefied, uncomprehending, every goldsmith blushes for his idols; his castings are but delusion, with no breath in them.

14. Every man is stupid and without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; for his images are false, and there is no breath in them.

15. They are futile, a laughable production; when the time comes for them to be punished, they will vanish.

15. They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.

16. The Heritage of Jacob is not like these, for he is the maker of everything, and Israel is the tribe that is his heritage. His name is Yahweh Sabaoth.

16. Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

17. Pick up your pack from the ground, you the besieged!

17. Gather up your bundle from the ground, O you who dwell under siege!

18. For Yahweh says this, 'Now I shall throw out the inhabitants of the country, this time, and bring distress on them, so that they may find me!'

18. For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it."

19. Disaster is on me! What a wound! My injury is incurable! And I used to think, 'If this is the worst, I can bear it!'

19. Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it."

20. But now my tent is destroyed, all my ropes are snapped, my sons have left me and are no more; no one is left to put my tent up again or to hang the side-cloths.

20. My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again, and to set up my curtains.

21. The shepherds are the ones who have been stupid: they have not searched for Yahweh. This is why they have not prospered and why their whole flock has been dispersed.

21. For the shepherds are stupid, and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.

22. Listen! A terrible noise! A mighty uproar from the land of the north to reduce the towns of Judah to desert, to a lair for jackals!

22. Hark, a rumor! Behold, it comes! -- a great commotion out of the north country to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals.

23. I know, Yahweh, no one's course is in his control, nor is it in anyone's power, as he goes his way, to guide his own steps.

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

24. Correct me, Yahweh, but with moderation, not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.

24. Correct me, O LORD, but in just measure; not in thy anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

25. Pour out your anger on the nations who do not acknowledge you, and on the families that do not call on your name, for they have devoured Jacob, have devoured and made an end of him and reduced his home to desolation.

25. Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the peoples that call not on thy name; for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.