1-2. The Lord said:Listen to me,you people of Israel.Don't follow the customsof those nationswho become frightenedwhen they see something strangehappen in the sky.
3. Their religion is worthless!They chop down a tree,carve the wood into an idol,
4. cover it with silver and gold,and then nail it downso it won't fall over.
5. An idol is no betterthan a scarecrow.It can't speak,and it has to be carried,because it can't walk.Why worship an idolthat can't help or harm you?
6. Our Lord, great and powerful,you alone are God.
7. You are King of the nations.Everyone should worship you.No human anywhere on earthis wiser than you.
8. Idols are worthless,and anyone who worships themis a fool!
9. Idols are made by humans.A carver shapes the wood.A metalworker hammers outa covering of gold from Uphazor of silver from Tarshish.Then the idol is dressedin blue and purple clothes.
10. You, Lord, are the only trueand living God.You will rule for all time.When you are angrythe earth shakes,and nations are destroyed.
11. You told me to saythat idols did not createthe heavens and the earth,and that you, the Lord,will destroy every idol.
12. With your wisdom and poweryou created the earthand spread out the heavens.
13. The waters in the heavens roarat your command.You make clouds appear—you send the windsfrom your storehouseand make lightning flashin the rain.
14. People who make idolsare so stupid!They will be disappointed,because their false godsare not alive.
15. Idols are merely a joke,and when the time is right,they will be destroyed.
16. But you, Israel's God,created all things,and you chose Israelto be your very own.Your name is the LordAll-Powerful.
17. I said to the people of Judah,“Gather your things;you are surrounded.
18. The Lord said these troubleswill lead to your capture,and he will throw youfrom this landlike a stone from a sling.”
19. The people answered,“We are woundedand doomed to die.Why did we saywe could stand the pain?
20. Our homes are destroyed;our children are dead.No one is leftto help us find shelter.”
21. But I told them,“Our leaders were stupid failures,because they refusedto listen to the Lord.And so we've been scatteredlike sheep.
22. “Sounds of destructionrumble from the northlike distant thunder.Soon our towns will be ruinswhere jackals live.”
23. I know, Lord, that we humansare not in controlof our own lives.
24. Correct me, as I deserve,but not in your anger,or I will be dead.
25. Our enemies refuseto admit that you are Godor to worship you.They have wiped out our peopleand left our nationlying in ruins.So get angryand sweep them away!