The Sovereignty of God

1Hear the word that YHWH speaks to you⁺, O house of Israel. 2Thus says YHWH:

“Upon the way of the nations do not train;

and do not be dismayed from the signs of the heavens,

for the nations are dismayed by them.

3For the customs of the peoples are vanity!

For one cuts down a tree from the forest,

the work of the hands of a craftsman,

with the ax.

4They decorate it with silver and with gold,

they fasten it with nails and with hammers

so that it will not totter.

5They are like scarecrows in a cucumber patch,

and they do not speak;

They must be carried,

because they can not step.

You should not be afraid of them, for they can do no harm,

and also to do good is not in them.”

There is none like You, O YHWH!

You are great, and great is Your name in might.

Who does not fear You O King of the nations?

Indeed, it is fitting for you!

Because among all the wise ones of the nations,

and in all their kingdoms,

is none like You.

But they are altogether senseless and foolish,

the teaching of of vanities, it is of wood!

9Beaten Silver is brought from Tarshish,

and gold from Uphaz,

the work of a craftsman

and of the hands of a refiner;

blue and purple are their clothing,

the work of skillful ones—all of them.

And YHWH is the true God;

He is the living God, and King forever!

At His wrath the earth trembles,

and the nations cannot endure His indignation.

11Thus you⁺ shall say to them: “The gods that the heavens and the earth have not made shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.†

12He has made the earth by His power;

He established the world by His wisdom,

and by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.

13When He gives forth His voice,

a tumult of waters is in the heavens,

and He makes the vapors to rise

from the end of the earth;

He makes the lightning for the rain,

and He brings forth the wind from His storehouses.

14All mankind has become stupid in knowledge!

Every refiner is put to shame by an idol;

for his molten image is falsehood,

and there is not breath in them.

15They are vanity, a work of errors;

in the time of their punishment they shall perish.

16The portion of Jacob is not like these;

for the Maker of all is He,

and Israel is the tribe of His inheritance—

YHWH of Hosts is His name!

The Coming Captivity of Judah

17Gather up your bundle from the land, O inhabitant of the fortress! 18For thus says YHWH:

“Behold, I am slinging out those dwelling in the land

at this time,

and I will cause distress for them,

so that they are found out!”

19Woe to me because of my brokenness—

my wound is grievous!

And I said, “Truly this is a sickness,

and I must bear it.

20My tent is plundered,

and all my cords are broken;

my children have gone forth from me,

and they are no more;

there is no one stretching out my tent anymore

and raising up my curtains.

21For the shepherds have become stupid,

and they have not sought YHWH!

Upon thus they have not prospered,

and all their flock is scattered.

22The sound of a report! Behold, it is coming—

and a great commotion from the land of the north—

to appoint the cities of Judah a desolation,

a habitation for jackals!†

23I know, O YHWH, that the way of man is not in himself;

not of man is the going and establishing his steps.

24Discipline me, O YHWH,

but with justice—

not in Your anger,

lest You bring me to nothing.

25Pour out Your fury on the nations

who do not know You,

and on the families

who do not call on Your name;

for they have eaten up Jacob,

and have devoured him and consumed him,

and have made his habitation desolate!