Jeremiah 10

1Hear ye the word which Jehovah speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

1Listen to the message that the LORD speaks to you, people of Israel.

2thus saith Jehovah, Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.

2This is what the LORD says: 'Do not follow the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, even though the nations are terrified by them.

3For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

3For the customs of those people are worthless. They cut down a tree from the forest, and a craftsman carves it with a tool.

4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

4They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammers and nails so it won’t fall over.

5They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.

5These idols are like carved posts in a melon patch; they cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them; they cannot do any harm, and they cannot do any good either.'

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

6There is no one like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is powerful in its might.

7Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee.

7Who would not fear you, King of the nations? You deserve such respect. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.

8But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.

8But they are all stupid and foolish; they receive instruction from worthless wooden idols.

9There 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 skilful men.

9Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. The idols are the work of craftsmen and goldsmiths. They are dressed in blue and purple clothing; they are all made by skilled men.

10But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation.

10But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the eternal King. The earth quakes at his anger, and the nations cannot endure his fury.

11Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.

11Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will disappear from the earth and from under the sky.'

12He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens.

12God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

13When he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.

13When he speaks, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings the wind out of his storehouses.

14Every man is become brutish and is without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

14Everyone is stupid and lacks knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. His statues are a lie; they have no breath in them.

15They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

15They are worthless, objects of mockery; when the time of their judgment comes, they will perish.

16The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.

16The God who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance—the LORD of Armies is his name.

17Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege.

17Gather up your belongings and leave the land, you who live under the siege.

18For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.

18For this is what the LORD says: 'Look, I am going to hurl out the people living in the land this time; I will bring distress on them so that they can feel it.'

19Woe is me because of my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.

19How terrible for me because of my injury! My wound is severe. But I said, 'This is my sickness, and I must endure it.'

20My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth from me, and they are not: there is none to spread my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

20My tent is ruined, and all its ropes are snapped. My children have left me and are gone; no one is left to set up my tent again or to hang its curtains.

21For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.

21The leaders have become stupid and do not seek the LORD; therefore they have not succeeded, and all their people are scattered.

22The voice of tidings, behold, it cometh, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling-place of jackals.

22Listen! The sound of a report is coming—a great commotion from the land to the north! It will turn the towns of Judah into a wasteland, a home for jackals.

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

23LORD, I know that a person’s life is not his own; it is not for people to direct their own steps.

24O Jehovah, correct me, but in measure; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

24Correct me, LORD, but with justice—not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.

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

25Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, and on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have swallowed him up and destroyed him, and have turned his home into a wasteland.