8. Those wise men are stupid and foolish.Their teachings come from worthless wooden idols.
9. They use silver from Tarshishand gold from Uphaz.Their idols are made by craftsmen and goldsmiths.They put blue and purple clothes on the idols.All these things are made by skilled workers.
10. But the Lord is the only true God.He is the only living God, King forever.The earth shakes when he is angry.The nations cannot stand up to his anger.
11. “Tell them this message: ‘These false gods did not make heaven and earth. But they will be destroyed and disappear from heaven and earth.’”
12. God made the earth by his power.He used his wisdom to build the world.He used his understanding to stretch out the skies.
13. When he thunders, the waters in the skies roar.He makes clouds rise in the sky all over the earth.He sends lightning with the rain.He brings out the wind from his storehouses.
14. People are so stupid and know so little.Goldsmiths are made ashamed by their idols.Those statues are only false gods.They have no breath in them.
15. They are worth nothing.People make fun of them.When they are judged, they will be destroyed.
16. But God, who is Jacob’s Portion, is not like the idols.God made everything.And he made Israel to be his special people.The Lord of heaven’s armies is his name.
17. Get everything you own and prepare to leave.You people of Judah are trapped in the city by your enemies.
18. This is what the Lord says:“At this time I will throw out the people of Judah who live in this land.I will bring pain and trouble to them.And they will really feel it.”
19. How terrible it will be for me because of my injury.I am injured and cannot be healed.Yet I told myself,“This is my sickness; I must suffer through it.”
20. My tent is ruined.All its ropes are broken.My children have gone away and left me.No one is left to put up my tent.No one is left to set up a shelter for me.
21. The shepherds are stupid.They don’t ask the Lord.So they do not have success.Their flocks are scattered and lost.
22. Listen! The news is coming.The loud noise is coming from the north.It will make the towns of Judah an empty desert.They will become a home for wild dogs!