Idols and the Living God
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Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
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Thus says the LORD: "Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them,
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1for the customs of the peoples are vanity.a 2A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.
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3They decorate it with silver and gold; 4they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.
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Their idolsb are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and 5they cannot speak; 6they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, 7for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good."
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9Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.
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12Beaten silver is brought from 13Tarshish, and gold from 14Uphaz. 15They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is violet and purple; 16they are all the work of skilled men.
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17But the LORD is the true God; 18he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
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Thus shall you say to them: 19"The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth 20shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens."c
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21It is he who 22made the earth by his power, 23who established the world by his wisdom, and 24by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
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25When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, 26and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. 27He makes lightning 28for the rain, 29and he brings forth the wind 30from his storehouses.
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31Every man is stupid and without knowledge; 32every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false, 33and there is no breath in them.
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They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.
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Not like these is he who is 34the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, 35and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; 36the LORD of hosts is his name.
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For thus says the LORD: 38"Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, 39and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it."
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Woe is me because of my hurt! 40My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it."
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41My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, 42and they are not; there is no one to spread my tent again and 43to set up my curtains.
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44For the shepherds 45are stupid and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, 46and all their flock is scattered.
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A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!-- 47a great commotion out of the north country to make 48the cities of Judah a desolation, 49a lair of jackals.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)