Jeremiah 10
1 “Hear the word that Yahweh is announcing to you, house of Israel.
Hear you the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel:
2 Yahweh says this, 'Do not learn the ways of the nations, and do not be dismayed by the signs in the heavens, for the nations are dismayed by these.
Thus says the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
3 For the religious customs of these people are worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and the craftsman carves the wood.
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.
4 Then they decorate it with silver and gold. They strengthen it with hammer and nails so it will not fall over.
They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.
5 What they make with their hands is like scarecrows in a cucumber field, because they, too, can say nothing, and they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they cannot bring about evil, nor are they able to do anything good.'”
They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
6 There is no one like you, Yahweh. You are great, and your name is great in power.
For as much as there is none like to you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.
7 Who does not fear you, king of the nations? For this is what you deserve, for there is no one like you among all the wise men of the nations or all their royal kingdoms.
Who would not fear you, O King of nations? for to you does it appertain: for as much as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like to you.
8 They are all the same, they are brutish and stupid, disciples of idols that are nothing but wood.
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
9 They bring hammered silver from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz made by artificers, the hands of refiners. Their clothes are blue and purple cloth. Their skillful men made all of these things.
Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
10 But Yahweh is the true God. He is the living God and eternal king. The earth quakes at his anger, and the nations cannot endure his anger.
But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
11 You will speak to them like this, “The gods that did not make the heavens and earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”
Thus shall you say to them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
12 But it was he who made the earth by his power, and he established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding he stretched 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 by his discretion.
13 His voice makes the roar of waters in the heavens, and he brings up the mists from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and sends out wind from his storehouse.
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 with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures.
14 Every man has become ignorant, without knowledge. Every metalworker is put to shame by his idols. For his cast images are frauds; there is no life in them.
Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
15 They are useless, the work of mockers; they will perish at the time of their punishment.
They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16 But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these, for he is the molder of all things. Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; Yahweh of hosts is his name.
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.
17 Gather your bundle and leave the land, you people who have been living under the siege.
Gather up your wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
18 For Yahweh says this, “See, I am about to throw the inhabitants of the land out this time. I will cause them distress, and they will find it to be so.”
For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
19 Woe to me! Because of my broken bones, my wound is infected. So I said, “Surely this is agony, but I must bear it.”
Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
20 My tent is devastated, and all of my tent cords are cut in two. They have taken my children away from me, so they no longer exist. There is no longer anyone to spread out my tent or to raise up my tent curtains.
My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21 For the shepherds are stupid and they do not seek Yahweh; so they have not prospered, and all their flock has been scattered.
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
22 The report of news has arrived, “See! It is coming, a great earthquake is coming from the land of the north To make the cities of Judah into ruins, hideouts for jackals.”
Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
23 I know, Yahweh, that the way of a man does not come from himself. No person walking directs his own steps.
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his steps.
24 Discipline me, Yahweh, with justice, not in your anger or you would destroy me.
O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.
25 Pour your fury on the nations that do not know you and on the families that do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob and consumed him so as to completely destroy him and demolish his habitation.
Pour out your fury on the heathen that know you not, and on the families that call not on your name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.
