Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁴⁰ Therefore the Eternal’s anger was ignited against His people;
    He came to despise the people of His inheritance.
⁴¹ So He handed them over to the control of foreign nations,
    to be ruled by people who hated them.
⁴² Their enemies exploited them, victimized them,
    and restrained them by abusive power.
⁴³ He delivered them over and over again;
    however, they were slow to learn and deliberately rebelled.
    Their sins humbled them and nearly destroyed them.
⁴⁴ Nevertheless, He saw their great struggle, took pity on them,
    and heard their prayers;
⁴⁵ He did not forget His covenant promises to them
    but reversed their fortune and released them from their punishment
    because of His loyal love.
⁴⁶ He changed the hearts of all who held them captive
    so that they would show compassion on them.

⁴⁷ Save us, O Eternal One our God,
    and gather us who are scattered among all the nations,
That we may give thanks to Your holy name
    and celebrate Your amazing greatness with praise.

⁴⁸ Blessed be the Eternal, the God of Israel,
    from everlasting to everlasting.
And let everyone say, “Amen!”
    Praise the Eternal!

² Eternal One: Don’t learn the strange practices and beliefs of other nations.
    Don’t be terrified by signs in the sky
        just because the other nations are.
³     For their traditions and customs are useless; there is nothing to them.
    A tree is cut down in the forest;
        then an artisan takes out a tool and carves it into an image.
⁴     They dress it up with gold and silver to make it more impressive.
        Then they nail it down so it won’t fall over!
⁵     This is what they worship? The idol just stands there—
        lifeless, powerless like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch.
    It cannot speak. It cannot move. They must pick the thing up and bring it along.
        Do you see why there’s nothing to fear from these dead pieces of wood?
    They cannot harm you, and they cannot help you either.

⁶ O Eternal One, there is no comparison.
    You are great; even Your name is powerful.
⁷ Who wouldn’t worship You? It is only right;
    You are the King of all kingdoms.
The wise and powerful men of all nations in their realms
    are still nothing compared to You.
⁸ They are stupid fools for taking their cues from blocks of wood,
    as if that idol could lead them anywhere.
⁹ Beaten silver from Tarshish, and hammered gold from Uphaz—
    materials made by artisans and goldsmiths—
Draped with royal blue and purple,
    even with the work of craftsmen—still a lifeless object!
¹⁰ Just look at the contrast! The Eternal is the True God:
    He is the living God and eternal King, not some lifeless idol.
The whole earth trembles when He is angry; nations crumble beneath His wrath.

¹² Know whom you’re dealing with!
    God alone is powerful enough to create the earth.
He alone is wise enough to put the world together.
    He alone understands enough to stretch out the heavens.
¹³ His voice thunders through the heavens, and the waters gush from the sky;
    He summons the clouds to build up over the earth.
As the rain falls, the lightning flashes at His command;
    the wind rushes in from where He alone can store it.
¹⁴ All of humanity is stupid and bankrupt of knowledge.
    Those who make idols are shamed by their creations.
What they fashion out of gold are imposters—
    breathless, lifeless frauds.
¹⁵ Their idols are worthless, the work of their hands an embarrassing mockery.
    They are doomed to perish under God’s judgment.
¹⁶ The portion of Jacob, the Eternal One, is not like any of these.
    He was not fashioned out of human hands.
Instead, it is He who made all things and appointed Israel to inherit it all.
    His name is the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies.