Study Desk

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

Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:

This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the way of the nations, And do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens, Although the nations are terrified by them;

Thus saith the Lord , Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.

For the customs of the peoples are futile; For it is wood cut from the forest, The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

"They decorate the idol with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not totter.

They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

"They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good."

They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.