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."