2 This is what the Lord says:

“Do not learn the ways of the nations

or be terrified by signs in the heavens,

though the nations are terrified by them.

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.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Learn not the way of the nations,

nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens

because the nations are dismayed at them,

3 for the customs of the peoples are vanity.

A tree from the forest is cut down

and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman.

4 They decorate it with silver and gold;

they fasten it with hammer and nails

so that it cannot move.

2 Thus saith the Lord,

Learn not the way of the heathen,

And be not dismayed at the signs of heaven;

For the heathen are dismayed at them.

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.

2 This is what the Lord says:

“Do not act like the other nations,

who try to read their future in the stars.

Do not be afraid of their predictions,

even though other nations are terrified by them.

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.

2 Thus says the Lord:

“Do not learn the way of the Gentiles;

Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven,

For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.

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.

2 This is what he says:

“Don’t live like the people from other nations,

and don’t be afraid of special signs in the sky,

even though the other nations are afraid of them.

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.

2 thus saith Jehovah, Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them. 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.

2 Thus saith Jehovah: Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are dismayed at them. 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.

2 This is what the Lord says: 

Don’t learn the practices of the nations. 

Don’t be frightened by the signs in the sky 

because the nations are frightened by them. 

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. 

2 This is what the Lord says:

Do not learn the way of the nations

or be terrified by signs in the heavens,

although the nations are terrified by them,

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.

2 Thus says the Lord:

Do not learn the way of the nations,

or be dismayed at the signs of the heavens;

for the nations are dismayed at them.

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.

2 Thus says Yahweh:

“You must not learn the way of the nations,

and you must not be dismayed by the signs of the heavens,

for the nations are dismayed by them.

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.

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.