New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 Hear what the LORD says to you, people of Israel.
1
Listen to the word that the LORD has spoken to you, people of Israel!
2 This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, though the nations are terrified by them.
2
The LORD proclaims: Don't follow the ways of the nations or be troubled by signs in the sky, even though the nations are troubled by them.
3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.
3
The rituals of the nations are hollow: a tree from the forest is chopped down and shaped by the craftsman's tools.
4 They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter.
4
It's overlaid with silver and gold, and fastened securely with hammer and nails so it won't fall over.
5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.”
5
They are no different than a scarecrow in a cucumber patch: they can't speak; they must be carried because they can't walk. Don't be afraid of them, because they can't do harm or good.
6 No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.
6
LORD, no one is like you! You are great, and great is your mighty name.
7 Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.
7
Who wouldn't fear you, king of the nations? That is your due; among all the wise of the nations and in all their countries, there is no one like you!
8 They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols.
8
But they are both foolish and silly; they offer nothing because they are mere wood.
9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple— all made by skilled workers.
9
Covered with silver from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz, they are the work of a craftsman and the hands of a goldsmith. Clothed in blue and purple, all of them nothing more than the work of artisans.
10 But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath.
10
But the LORD is the true God! He's the living God and the everlasting king! When he's angry, the earth quakes; the nations can't endure his rage.
11 “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.’ ”
11
Tell them this: The gods who didn't make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.
12 But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.
12
But God made the earth by his might; he shaped the world by his wisdom, crafted the skies by his knowledge.
13 When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.
13
At the sound of his voice, the heavenly waters roar. He raises the clouds from the ends of the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain, the wind from his treasuries.
14 Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. The images he makes are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
14
Everyone is too foolish to understand; every goldsmith is dishonored by his idols, for their images are shams; they aren't alive.
15 They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish.
15
They are a delusion, a charade; at the appointed time they will vanish!
16 He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the people of his inheritance— the LORD Almighty is his name.
16
Jacob's portion is utterly different because God has formed all things, including Israel, his very own people— the LORD of heavenly forces is his name!
17 Gather up your belongings to leave the land, you who live under siege.
17
Pack your bags and get ready to leave, you who live under siege.
18 For this is what the LORD says: “At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured.”
18
The LORD proclaims: I'm going to eject those who live in the land at this time; I will badger them until they leave.
19 Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, “This is my sickness, and I must endure it.”
19
How terrible for me, due to my injury; my wound is terrible. Yet I said to myself: This is my sickness, and I must bear it.
20 My tent is destroyed; all its ropes are snapped. My children are gone from me and are no more; no one is left now to pitch my tent or to set up my shelter.
20
But now my tent is destroyed; all its ropes are cut, and my children are gone for good. There's no one left to set up my tent frame and to attach the fabric.
21 The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered.
21
The shepherd kings have lost their senses and don't seek answers from the LORD. That is why they have failed and their flock is scattered.
22 Listen! The report is coming— a great commotion from the land of the north! It will make the towns of Judah desolate, a haunt of jackals.
22
Listen! The sound is getting louder, a mighty uproar from the land of the north; it will reduce the towns of Judah to ruins, a den for wild dogs.
23 LORD, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.
23
I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own, that we're not able to direct our paths.
24 Discipline me, LORD, but only in due measure— not in your anger, or you will reduce me to nothing.
24
So correct me, LORD, but with justice, not in your anger, or else you will reduce me to nothing.
25 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland.
25
Pour out your wrath on the nations that ignore you and on the people who don't call on you, since they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and ruined his country.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible