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10 Hear the word which Yahweh speaks to you, house of Israel! Yahweh says,

“Don’t learn the way of the nations,
    and don’t be dismayed at the signs of the sky;
    for the nations are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the peoples are vanity;
    for one cuts a tree out of the forest,
    the work of the hands of the workman with the ax.
They deck it with silver and with gold.
    They fasten it with nails and with hammers,
    so that it can’t move.
They are like a palm tree, of turned work,
    and don’t speak.
They must be carried,
    because they can’t move.
Don’t be afraid of them;
    for they can’t do evil,
    neither is it in them to do good.”

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A Satire on Idolatry

10 Hear the word which the Lord speaks to you, house of Israel. This is what the Lord says:

(A)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;
For the customs of the peoples are (B)futile;
For (C)it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
They (D)decorate the idol with silver and gold;
They (E)fasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not totter.
They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
And they (F)cannot speak;
They must be (G)carried,
Because they cannot walk!
Do not fear them,
For they (H)can do no harm,
Nor can they do any good.”

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