Jeremiah 10
1HEAR the word of the Lord which He hath spoken for you, O house of Israel.
2Thus saith the Lord: Learn not the ways of the nations, and at the signs of heaven be not dismayed, because they are terrified at these appearances,
3because the ordinances of the nations are vain. Timber is cut from the forest:
4a carpenter’s work and a molten image are adorned with silver and gold. Having fastened them with mallets and nails they will place them and they are not to be moved.
5They are silver which can be turned in a lathe; they cannot walk.
9They are silver which can be formed into plates. From Tharsis will come the gold of Mophaz, and the hand of men skilled in casting gold. They are all the workmanship of artists. With blue and purple raiment they are to be clothed: they must be taken up and carried, for they cannot walk. Fear them not, for they can do you no harm; and there is no good in them.
11Thus shall you say to them: Let the gods which have not made heaven and earth perish from the earth and from under heaven.
12It is the Lord who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom: and by His understanding spread out the heaven,
13and the multitude of waters in heaven: when He brought up clouds from the extremity of the earth; He made the lightning for rain, and brought light forth from His treasuries.
14Every man on account of knowledge became foolish. Every melter of gold was put to shame for his graven images, because he cast falsities and there is no breath in them.
15These ridiculous works are vain; in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
16Unlike to these is the portion of Jacob: for He who formed all things is his inheritance. His name is, The Lord.
17He hath collected from abroad the substance of thee, dwelling in chosen places.
18For thus saith the Lord, Behold I am about to subvert with affliction the inhabitants of this land, that the stroke may reach thee.
19Alas for thine affliction! the stroke given thee is painful.
(p) Upon this I said, This is a wounding of thee indeed! it hath sunk deep in thee!
20thy tent is in a miserable state. It is ruined. And all thy curtains are torn to pieces.
(c) My children and my flocks are no more. There is not a trace of my tent left—no remains of my curtains.
21(J) Because the shepherds were foolish and sought not the Lord, therefore the whole flock was thoughtless, and they are scattered.
22A noisy sound! Hark! it is coming; and a great disturbance from the land to the north, to make the cities of Juda a desolation and a haunt of ostriches.
23(p) I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, nor can a man who travelleth ensure to himself a prosperous journey.
24Correct us, O Lord, but with judgment and not with wrath, that Thou mayst not make us few in number.
25Pour out Thy wrath on the nations that knew Thee not, and on the families which have not invoked Thy name. Because they have devoured Jacob and consumed him, and have made his pasture a desolation.