No One Like You, Lord

^[1] Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. ^[2] This is what the LORD says: “Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. ^[3] For the customs 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. ^[5] Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.” ^[6] No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. ^[7] Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. ^[8] They are all senseless and foolish; they are taught by worthless wooden idols. ^[9] Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish and gold from Uphaz. What the craftsman and goldsmith have made is then dressed in blue and purple- all made by skilled workers. ^[10] But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. ^[11] “Tell them this: ‘These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.'” ^[12] But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. ^[13] When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. ^[14] Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. ^[15] They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. ^[16] He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the tribe of his inheritance- the LORD Almighty is his name. ^[17] Gather up your belongings to leave the land, you who live under siege. ^[18] For this is what the LORD says: “At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured.” ^[19] Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, “This is my sickness, and I must endure it.” ^[20] My tent is destroyed; all its ropes are snapped. My sons are gone from me and are no more; no one is left now to pitch my tent or to set up my shelter. ^[21] The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the LORD; so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered. ^[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] I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. ^[24] Correct me, LORD, but only with justice- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. ^[25] Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name. For they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.