1. People of Israel, listen to what the Lord is telling you.
2. He says, "Do not follow the practices of other nations. Do not be terrified by warnings in the sky. Do not be afraid, even though the nations are terrified by them.
3. The practices of those nations are worthless. People cut a tree out of the forest. A skilled worker shapes the wood with a sharp tool.
4. Others decorate it with silver and gold. They use a hammer to nail it to the floor. They want to keep it from falling down.
5. The statues of their gods can't speak. They are like scarecrows in a field of melons. They have to be carried around because they can't walk. So do not worship them. They can't do you any harm. And they can't do you any good either."
6. Lord, no one is like you. You are great. You are mighty and powerful.
7. King of the nations, everyone should have respect for you. That's what people should give you. Among all of the wise people in the nations there is no one like you. No one can compare with you in all of their kingdoms.
8. All of them are foolish. They don't have any sense. They think they are taught by worthless wooden gods.
9. Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish. Gold is brought from Uphaz. People who are skilled in working with wood and gold make a statue. Then they put blue and purple clothes on it. The whole thing is made by skilled workers.
10. But you are the only true God. You are the only living God. You are the King who rules forever. When you are angry, the earth trembles with fear. The nations can't stand up under your anger.
11. The Lord says to the Jews who are living in Babylonia, "Tell the people of the nations, 'Your gods did not make the heavens and the earth. In fact, those gods will disappear from the earth. They will vanish from under the heavens.' "