1. Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel:
2. 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 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 axe.
4. They decorate it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it does not move.
5. They are upright like the palm tree, but do not speak: they must be carried, because they cannot walk. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.
6. For 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 nations? for to you it belongs: seeing that among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like you.
8. But they are altogether stupid and foolish: the tree trunk is a doctrine of vanities.
9. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman, and of the hands of the goldsmith: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of skilful men.
10. But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his anger the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to endure his indignation.
11. Thus shall you say to them, The gods who have not made the heavens and the earth, even they 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 by his discretion.
13. When he speaks forth 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 lightnings with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures.
14. Every man is stupid in his knowledge: every metal worker is put to shame by the sculptured image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
15. They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16. 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 up your goods out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.
18. For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
19. Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is severe: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
20. My tabernacle is laid waste, and all my cords are broken: my children have gone away from me, and they are not: there is no one to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
21. For the shepherds have become stupid, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
22. Behold, the sound of the rumor has come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.
23. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
24. O LORD, correct me, but in moderation; not in your anger, so that you do not bring me to nothing.
25. Pour out your fury upon the heathen who do not know you, and upon the families that do not call on your name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.