11 “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish(A) from the earth and from under the heavens.’”[a]

12 But God made(B) the earth(C) by his power;
    he founded the world by his wisdom(D)
    and stretched out the heavens(E) by his understanding.
13 When he thunders,(F) the waters in the heavens roar;
    he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning(G) with the rain(H)
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.(I)

14 Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
    every goldsmith is shamed(J) by his idols.
The images he makes are a fraud;(K)
    they have no breath in them.
15 They are worthless,(L) the objects of mockery;
    when their judgment comes, they will perish.
16 He who is the Portion(M) of Jacob is not like these,
    for he is the Maker of all things,(N)
including Israel, the people of his inheritance(O)
    the Lord Almighty is his name.(P)

Coming Destruction

17 Gather up your belongings(Q) to leave the land,
    you who live under siege.
18 For this is what the Lord says:
    “At this time I will hurl(R) out
    those who live in this land;
I will bring distress(S) on them
    so that they may be captured.”

19 Woe to me because of my injury!
    My wound(T) is incurable!
Yet I said to myself,
    “This is my sickness, and I must endure(U) it.”
20 My tent(V) is destroyed;
    all its ropes are snapped.
My children are gone from me and are no more;(W)
    no one is left now to pitch my tent
    or to set up my shelter.
21 The shepherds(X) are senseless(Y)
    and do not inquire of the Lord;(Z)
so they do not prosper(AA)
    and all their flock is scattered.(AB)
22 Listen! The report is coming—
    a great commotion from the land of the north!(AC)
It will make the towns of Judah desolate,(AD)
    a haunt of jackals.(AE)

Jeremiah’s Prayer

23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.(AF)
24 Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—
    not in your anger,(AG)
    or you will reduce me to nothing.(AH)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 10:11 The text of this verse is in Aramaic.

11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

12 He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.

13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

14 Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.

15 They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

16 The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.

17 Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.

18 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.

19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous; but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.

20 My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.

21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

23 O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

24 O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

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