Jeremiah 10:22–23

22 Listen! The report is coming—

a great commotion from the land of the north!

It will make the towns of Judah desolate,

a haunt of jackals.

23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own;

it is not for them to direct their steps.

22 A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!—

a great commotion out of the north country

to make the cities of Judah a desolation,

a lair of jackals.

23 I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself,

that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

22 Listen! Hear the terrifying roar of great armies

as they roll down from the north.

The towns of Judah will be destroyed

and become a haunt for jackals.

23 I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.

We are not able to plan our own course.

22 Behold, the noise of the report has come,

And a great commotion out of the north country,

To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals.

23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself;

It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

22 Listen! The news is coming.

A loud noise comes from the north

to make the towns of Judah an empty desert

and a home for wild dogs!

23 Lord, I know that our lives don’t really belong to us.

We can’t control our own lives.

22 The voice of tidings, behold, it cometh, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling-place of jackals.

23 O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

22 The voice of a rumour! Behold, it cometh, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling-place of jackals. 23 I know, Jehovah, that the way of man is not his own; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps.

22 The report has arrived. 

A tremendous uproar is coming from the land of the north. 

Its army will destroy Judah’s cities 

and make them homes for jackals. 

23 O Lord, I know that the way humans act is not under their control. 

Humans do not direct their steps as they walk. 

22 Listen! A noise—it is coming—

a great commotion from the land to the north.

The cities of Judah will be made desolate,

a jackals’ den.

23 I know, Lord,

that a man’s way of life is not his own;

no one who walks determines his own steps.

22 Hear, a noise! Listen, it is coming—

a great commotion from the land of the north

to make the cities of Judah a desolation,

a lair of jackals.

23 I know, O Lord, that the way of humans is not in their control,

that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps.

22 Listen, news:

Look, it is coming,

a great roar from the land of the north,

to make the cities of Judah a desolation,

a lair of jackals.

23 I know, O Yahweh, that to the human is not his own way,

nor to a person is the walking and the directing of his own step.

22 Listen! A message is coming!

I hear the sound of a great army

marching down from the north!

It will turn Judah’s towns into a desert.

They will become a home for wild dogs.

23 Lord, I know that a man doesn’t control his own life.

He doesn’t direct his own steps.

22 The sound of a report! Behold, it comes—

A great commotion out of the land of the north—

To make the cities of Judah

A desolation, a haunt of jackals.

23 I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself,

Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps.