Jeremiah 10:12-25

New International Version

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

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

Coming Destruction

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

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

Jeremiah’s Prayer

²³Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;
    it is not for them to direct their steps.^(AE)
²⁴Discipline me, Lord, but only in due measure—
    not in your anger,^(AF)
    or you will reduce me to nothing.^(AG)
²⁵Pour out your wrath on the nations^(AH)
    that do not acknowledge you,
    on the peoples who do not call on your name.^(AI)
For they have devoured^(AJ) Jacob;
    they have devoured him completely
    and destroyed his homeland.^(AK)