17. Every man is stupid, ignorant;every artisan is put to shame by his idol:He molds a fraud,without life-breath.
18. They are nothing, a ridiculous work,that will perish at the time of punishment.
19. Jacob’s portion is nothing like them:he is the creator of all things.Israel is his very own tribe;Lord of hosts is his name.
20. You are my hammer,a weapon for war;With you I shatter nations,with you I destroy kingdoms.
21. With you I shatter horse and rider,with you I shatter chariot and driver.
22. With you I shatter man and woman,with you I shatter old and young,with you I shatter the young man and young woman.
23. With you I shatter shepherd and flock,with you I shatter farmer and team,with you I shatter governors and officers.
24. Thus I will repay Babylon,all the inhabitants of Chaldea,For all the evil they committed against Zion,before your very eyes—oracle of the Lord.
25. Beware! I am against you,destroying mountain—oracle of the Lord—destroyer of the entire earth,I will stretch forth my hand against you,roll you down over the cliffs,and make you a burnt mountain:
26. They will not take from you a cornerstone,or a foundation stone;You shall remain ruins forever—oracle of the Lord.
27. Raise a signal in the land,sound the trumpet among the nations;Dedicate nations for war against her,summon against her the kingdoms:Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz;Appoint a recruiting officer against her,dispatch horses like bristling locusts.