3 For the practices of the peoples are worthless;

they cut a tree out of the forest,

and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

4 They adorn it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so it will not totter.

3 For the customs of the people are vain:

For one cutteth a tree out of the forest,

The work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

4 They deck it with silver and with gold;

They fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

3 Their ways are futile and foolish.

They cut down a tree, and a craftsman carves an idol.

4 They decorate it with gold and silver

and then fasten it securely with hammer and nails

so it won’t fall over.

3 For the customs of the peoples are futile;

For one cuts a tree from the forest,

The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

4 They decorate it with silver and gold;

They fasten it with nails and hammers

So that it will not topple.

3 The customs of other people are worth nothing.

Their idols are just wood cut from the forest,

shaped by a worker with his chisel.

4 They decorate their idols with silver and gold.

With hammers and nails they fasten them down

so they won’t fall over.

3 For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe. 4 They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

3 For the statutes of the peoples are vanity; for it is a tree cut out of the forest, worked with a chisel by the hands of the artizan; 4 they deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.

3 The religion of the people is worthless. 

Woodcutters cut down trees from the forest. 

The hands of craftsmen prepare them with axes. 

4 Craftsmen decorate them with silver and gold 

and fasten them ⸤together⸥ with hammers and nails 

so that they won’t fall over. 

3 for the customs of the peoples are worthless.

Someone cuts down a tree from the forest;

it is worked by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.

4 He decorates it with silver and gold.

It is fastened with hammer and nails,

so it won’t totter.

3 For the customs of the peoples are false:

a tree from the forest is cut down,

and worked with an ax by the hands of an artisan;

4 people deck it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so that it cannot move.

3 For the statutes of the peoples are vanity,

for it is a tree cut down from the forest,

the work of the hands of a craftsman with the tool.

4 He decorates it with silver and gold,

they strengthen it with nails and hammers,

so that it does not stagger.

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.

3 For the customs of the peoples are delusion;

Because it is wood cut from the forest,

The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.

4 “They decorate it with silver and with gold;

They fasten it with nails and with hammers

So that it will not totter.