15 He made the earth by His power,
established the world(A) by His wisdom,(B)
and spread out the heavens by His understanding.(C)
16 When He thunders,[a]
the waters in the heavens are in turmoil,(D)
and He causes the clouds
to rise from the ends of the earth.
He makes lightning for the rain
and brings the wind from His storehouses.(E)

17 Everyone is stupid and ignorant.
Every goldsmith is put to shame by his carved image,(F)
for his cast images are a lie;(G)
there is no breath in them.(H)
18 They are worthless,(I) a work to be mocked.
At the time of their punishment they will be destroyed.(J)
19 Jacob’s Portion[b] is not like these
because He is the One who formed all things.(K)
Israel is the tribe of His inheritance;(L)
Yahweh of Hosts is His name.(M)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:16 Lit At His giving of the voice
  2. Jeremiah 51:19 = the Lord

15 “He made the earth by his power;
    he founded the world by his wisdom(A)
    and stretched(B) out the heavens by his understanding.(C)
16 When he thunders,(D) the waters in the heavens roar;
    he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain(E)
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.(F)

17 “Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
    every goldsmith is shamed by his idols.
The images he makes are a fraud;(G)
    they have no breath in them.
18 They are worthless,(H) the objects of mockery;
    when their judgment comes, they will perish.
19 He who is the Portion(I) of Jacob is not like these,
    for he is the Maker of all things,
including the people of his inheritance(J)
    the Lord Almighty is his name.

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