Jeremiah 10

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

2Thus saith 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.

3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.footnote a

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

5They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

6Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.

7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.footnote b

8But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.footnote c

9Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

10But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.footnote dfootnote efootnote f

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

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

13When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.footnote gfootnote h

14Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.footnote i

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

16The 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.

17Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.footnote j

18For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.

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

20My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

21For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

22Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

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

24O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.footnote k

25Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

The Sovereignty of God

1Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. 2This is what the LORD says:“Do not learn the ways of the nationsor be terrified by the signs in the heavens,though the nations themselves are terrified by them. 3For the customs of the peoples are worthless;they cut down a tree from the forest;it is shaped with a chiselby the hands of a craftsman. 4They adorn it with silver and goldand fasten it with hammer and nails,so that it will not totter.

5Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,their idols cannot speak.They must be carriedbecause they cannot walk.Do not fear them, for they can do no harm,and neither can they do any good.”

6There is none like You, O LORD.You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. 7Who would not fear You, O King of nations?This is Your due.For among all the wise men of the nations,and in all their kingdoms,there is none like You.

8But they are altogether senseless and foolish,instructed by worthless idols made of wood! 9Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish,and gold from Uphaz—the work of a craftsmanfrom the hands of a goldsmith.Their clothes are blue and purple,all fashioned by skilled workers. 10But the LORD is the true God;He is the living God and eternal King.The earth quakes at His wrath,and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

11Thus you are to tell them: “These gods, who have made neither the heavens nor the earth, will perish from this earth and from under these heavens.”footnote a

12The LORD made the earth by His power;He established the world by His wisdomand stretched out the heavens by His understanding. 13When He thunders,the waters in the heavens roar;He causes the clouds to risefrom the ends of the earth.He generates the lightning with the rainand brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

14Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge;every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols.For his molten images are a fraud,and there is no breath in them. 15They are worthless, a work to be mocked.In the time of their punishment they will perish.

16The 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 Hosts is His name.

The Coming Captivity of Judah

17Gather up your belongings from this land, you who live under siege. 18For this is what the LORD says:“Behold, at this time I will sling outthe inhabitants of the landand bring distress upon themso that they may be captured.”

19Woe to me because of my brokenness;my wound is grievous!But I said, “This is truly my sickness,and I must bear it.” 20My tent is destroyed,and all its ropes are snapped.My sons have departed from meand are no more.I have no one left to pitch my tentor set up my curtains.

21For the shepherds have become senseless;they do not seek the LORD.Therefore they have not prospered,and all their flock is scattered. 22Listen! The sound of a report is coming—a great commotion from the land to the north.It will make the cities of Judah a desolation,a haunt for jackals.footnote b

23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own;no one who walks directs his own steps. 24Correct me, O LORD,but only with justice—not in Your anger,or You will bring me to nothing.

25Pour out Your wrath on the nationsthat do not acknowledge You,and on the familiesthat do not call on Your name.For they have devoured Jacob;they have consumed him and finished him off;they have devastated his homeland.