[1] Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, O house of Israel.
[2] 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] 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] They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple.
[5] 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] Inasmuch as there is none like You, O Lord (You are great, and Your name is great in might),
[7] 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] But they are altogether dull-hearted and foolish; A wooden idol is a worthless doctrine.
[9] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] 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] They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish.
[16] 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.
[17] Gather up your wares from the land, O inhabitant of the fortress!
[18] 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] Woe is me for my hurt! My wound is severe. But I say, “Truly this is an infirmity, And I must bear it.”
[20] 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] 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] 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 the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
[24] O Lord, 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.