The Book of the Prophet Jeremiah

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 10 -

“Hear the word that Yahweh is announcing to you, house of Israel.

Yahweh says this, ’Do not learn the ways of the nations, and do not be dismayed by the signs in the heavens, for the nations are dismayed by these.

For the customs of the peoples are worthless. For someone cuts a tree down in a forest; the hands of a craftsman do this with an ax.

Then they decorate it with silver and gold. They strengthen it with hammer and nails so it will not fall over.

These idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, for they can say nothing. They have to be carried, for they cannot take any steps at all. Do not fear them, for they cannot bring about evil, nor are they able to do anything good.’”

There is no one like you, Yahweh. You are great, and your name is great in power.

Who does not fear you, king of the nations? For this is what you deserve, for there is no one like you among all the wise men of the nations or all their royal kingdoms.

They are all the same, they are brutish and stupid, disciples of idols that are nothing but wood.

They bring hammered silver from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz made by artificers, the hands of refiners. Their clothes are blue and purple cloth. Their skillful men made all of these things.

But Yahweh is the true God. He is the living God and eternal king. The earth quakes at his anger, and the nations cannot endure his anger.

You will speak to them like this, “The gods that did not make the heavens and earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens.”

The maker of earth in his power established dry land in his wisdom and spread the heavens in his understanding.

His voice makes the roar of waters in the heavens, and he brings up the mists from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain and sends out wind from his storehouse.

Every man has become ignorant, without knowledge. Every metalworker is put to shame by his idols. For his cast images are frauds; there is no life in them.

They are useless, the work of mockers; they will perish at the time of their punishment.

But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these, for he is the molder of all things. Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; Yahweh of hosts is his name.

The Coming Captivity of Judah

Gather your bundle and leave the land, you people who have been living under the siege.

For Yahweh says this, “See, I am about to throw the inhabitants of the land out this time. I will cause them distress, and they will find it to be so.”

Woe to me! Because of my broken bones, my wound is infected. So I said, “Surely this is agony, but I must bear it.”

My tent is devastated, and all of my tent cords are cut in two. They have taken my children away from me, so they no longer exist. There is no longer anyone to spread out my tent or to raise up my tent curtains.

For the shepherds have become stupid. They do not seek Yahweh. So they have no success; all their flocks are scattered.

The report of news has arrived, “See! It is coming, a great earthquake is coming from the land of the north To make the cities of Judah into ruins, hideouts for jackals.”

I know, Yahweh, that a man’s path does not come from himself. No person walking directs his own steps.

Discipline me, Yahweh, with justice, not in your anger or you would destroy me.

Pour your fury on the nations that do not know you and on the families that do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob and consumed him so as to completely destroy him and demolish his habitation.

Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, house of Israel!

The LORD says, “Don’t learn the way of the nations, and don’t be dismayed at the signs of the sky; for the nations are dismayed at them.

For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.

They deck it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers, so that it can’t move.

They are like a palm tree, of turned work, and don’t speak. They must be carried, because they can’t move. Don’t be afraid of them; for they can’t do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”

There is no one like you, LORD. You are great, and your name is great in might.

Who shouldn’t fear you, King of the nations? For it belongs to you. Because among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is no one like you.

But they are together brutish and foolish, instructed by idols! It is just wood.

There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the engraver and of the hands of the goldsmith. Their clothing is blue and purple. They are all the work of skillful men.

But the LORD is the true God. He is the living God, and an everlasting King. At his wrath, the earth trembles. The nations aren’t able to withstand his indignation.

“You shall say this to them: ‘The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.’”

God has made the earth by his power. He has established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding has he stretched out the heavens.

When he utters his voice, the waters in the heavens roar, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and brings the wind out of his treasuries.

Every man has become brutish and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is disappointed by his engraved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

They are vanity, a work of delusion. In the time of their visitation they will perish.

The 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 Armies is his name.

The Coming Captivity of Judah

Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege.

For the LORD says, “Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.”

Woe is me because of my injury! My wound is serious; but I said, “Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.”

My tent has been destroyed, and all my cords are broken. My children have gone away from me, and they are no more. There is no one to spread my tent any more, to set up my curtains.

For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have scattered.

The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place of jackals.

LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

LORD, correct me, but gently; not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.

Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, and on the families that don’t call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob. Yes, they have devoured him, consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.