Jeremiah 10

1 Hear [listen attentively, obey] the word [message, declaration] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] speaks [declares, communicates] to you, O house [family, dwelling place] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people]. word study 2 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Do not learn [be instructed or guided] the ways [customs, manner of life] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews] or be terrified [completely broken, shattered] by the signs [miraculous wonders, omens] in the heavens [the visible sky, the universe], though the nations [Gentile peoples] themselves are terrified [dismayed, fearful] by them [these celestial events]. word study 3 For the customs [traditions, practices] of the peoples [nations, Gentiles] are worthless [vanity, emptiness]; they cut down a tree [a log, wood] from the forest [woods, wilderness]; it is shaped [crafted, carved] with a chisel [axe, tool] by the hands [skill, craftsmanship] of a craftsman [artificer, skilled worker]. word study 4 They adorn [deck, beautify] it with silver [valuable metal] and gold [precious, brilliant] and fasten [secure, make strong] it with hammer [tool of strength, force] and nails [pegs, to hold in place], so that it will not [absence of movement, stability] totter [reel, waver, lose balance]. word study 5 Like scarecrows [upright as a palm tree] in a cucumber patch, their idols [framed after the likeness of a palm tree, stiff and unresponsive] cannot speak [or communicate, or promise anything]. They must be carried [borne, lifted, or removed] because they cannot walk [march, step, or move on their own]. Do not fear [or revere, or stand in awe of] them, for they can do no harm [or evil, or shatter anything], and neither can they do any good [or be pleasing, or bring joy].” word study 6 There is none [no one, nothing] like You, O LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. You are great [mighty, powerful], and Your name [reputation, character] is mighty [full of strength, great] in power [might, strength]. word study 7 Who [would not have fear of you] would not fear You, O King [of the nations, sovereign ruler] of nations? This is Your due [what is rightfully yours, your rightful place]. For among all [every single one] the wise [intelligent, skilled] men of the nations, and in all [every] their kingdoms [royal estates, domains], there is none [no one, nothing] like You [comparable to you, similar in nature]. word study 8 But they are altogether [brutish, stupid] senseless [lacking judgment, foolish] and foolish [without understanding, barbarous], instructed [taught, guided] by worthless [vain, empty] idols [false gods, vanities] made of wood [a tree, a mere object]! word study 9 Hammered [beaten into plates, spread out] silver [a valuable metal] is brought from Tarshish [a place of commerce, a merchant vessel], and gold [a precious metal] from Uphaz [a region of fine gold, a place of desire]— the work [deed, action] of a craftsman [artificer, skilled worker] from the hands [power, direction] of a goldsmith [one who refines, purifies]. Their clothes are blue [a blue-violet color] and purple [a deep purple dye], all fashioned [made, created] by skilled [wise, cunning] workers [craftsmen, artisans]. word study 10 But the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is the true [faithful, trustworthy] God; He is the living [having eternal life] God and eternal [forever, age-during] King. The earth [land, ground] quakes [shakes, trembles] at His wrath [intense anger, indignation], and the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews] cannot endure [sustain, withstand] His indignation [fury, displeasure]. word study 11 Thus you are to tell them: “These [false, idolatrous] gods, who have made [created, formed] neither the heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] nor the earth [the land, the material world], will perish [be destroyed, cut off] from this earth and from under these heavens [the celestial realm, God’s domain].” word study 12 The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] made [created, formed] the earth [land, ground] by His power [strength, might]; He established [set up, founded] the world [earth, universe] by His wisdom [prudence, discernment] and stretched out [expanded, spread] the heavens [sky, universe] by His understanding [intelligence, insight]. word study 13 When He thunders [utters His voice, speaks loudly], the waters [a multitude of waters, a massing of waters] in the heavens [the sky, the visible universe] roar; He causes the clouds [vapors, mists] to rise from the ends [borders, edges] of the earth [the land, the ground]. He generates [makes, creates] the lightning [thunder-flames, flashes of lightning] with the rain [accompanied by rain, for rain] and brings forth [sends out, releases] the wind [a blast of air] from His storehouses [treasures, treasuries]. word study 14 Every man [is brutish, stupid] is senseless and devoid of [true, spiritual] knowledge; every goldsmith [metalworker, refiner] is put to shame [disappointed, withered] by his idols [graven images, false gods]. For his molten images [cast metal statues] are a fraud [deception, falsehood], and there is no breath [spirit, life] in them. word study 15 They [are vanity, worthless, a work of errors] are worthless [vain, empty, devoid of true value], a work [deed, action, product] to be mocked [ridiculed, laughed at, a delusion]. In the time [occasion, event, period] of their punishment [visitation, inspection, reckoning] they will perish [be destroyed, lost, come to an end]. word study 16 The Portion [inheritance, heritage] of Jacob is not like these [idols, false gods], for He is the Maker [Creator, former] of all things [everything, the universe], and Israel [the tribe of His people] is the tribe [a clan] of His inheritance [heritage, possession]— the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] is His name [character, identity]. word study 17 Gather up [collect, assemble] your belongings [wares, goods, bundle] from this land [country, territory, region], you who live [dwell, reside, abide] under siege [in a stronghold, in a place of entrenchment, surrounded by enemies]. word study 18 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Behold [look, take notice], at this time [now, in this moment] I will sling out [throw away, cast out] the inhabitants [dwellers, residents] of the land [earth, country] and bring distress [trouble, affliction] upon them so that they may be captured [found, discovered, in a state of trouble].” word study 19 Woe [alas, oh no] to me because of my brokenness [destruction, shattering]; my wound [injury, plague] is grievous [serious, severe]! But I said, “This [truly, surely] is truly my sickness [disease, grief], and I must bear [endure, lift] it [my suffering, my pain].” word study 20 My tent [tabernacle, dwelling place] is destroyed [spoiled, laid waste], and all [every one of] its ropes [cords, strings] are snapped [broken, torn]. My sons [children, descendants] have departed [gone forth, come out] from me and are no more [nothing, not to be found]. I have no one left [none to help] to pitch [stretch out, spread] my tent [home, shelter] or set up [raise, hang] my curtains [drapes, hangings]. word study 21 For the shepherds [pastors, spiritual leaders] have become senseless [brutish, stupid, without spiritual discernment]; they do not seek [inquire of, ask for guidance from] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. Therefore they have not prospered [been successful, acted wisely], and all their flock [people under their care, congregation] is scattered [dispersed, broken apart]. word study 22 Listen [to the news, behold]! The sound [voice, noise] of a report [tidings, announcement] is coming [approaching, drawing near]— a great [large, immense] commotion [shaking, quaking] from the land [earth, territory] to the north [Zaphon, northern direction]. The cities [towns, settlements] of Judah [the tribe of Judah, the region] will be made [to become, to be set] a desolation [waste, devastation], a haunt [dwelling place, habitation] for jackals [dragons, wild beasts]. word study 23 I know [am fully aware, have come to understand], O LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], that a man’s [human being’s, Adam’s] way [path, journey] is not his own [does not belong to him, is not under his control]; no one who walks [goes, travels, holistic lifestyle] directs [guides, establishes, sets in order] his own steps [pace, path, daily life]. word study 24 Correct me [discipline, chastise], O LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God], but only with justice [in measure, with judgment]— not in Your anger [wrath], or You will bring me to nothing [reduce me to nothing, make me small]. word study 25 Pour out Your wrath [intense anger, fury] on the nations [Gentiles, heathen] that do not acknowledge [know, recognize] You, and on the families [clans, tribes] that do not call [invoke, worship] on Your name [identity, honor]. For they have devoured [eaten up, consumed] Jacob [the people of Israel]; they have consumed [destroyed, laid waste] him and finished [ended, used up] him off; they have devastated [made desolate, destroyed] his homeland [dwelling place, pasture]. word study