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For the carvings of the nations are nonentities,
    wood cut from the forest,
Fashioned by artisans with the adze,(A)
    adorned with silver and gold.
With nails and hammers they are fastened,
    so they do not fall.(B)
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they,
    they cannot speak;
They must be carried about,
    for they cannot walk.
Do not fear them, they can do no harm,
    neither can they do good.(C)
No one is like you, Lord,
    you are great,
    great and mighty is your name.(D)
Who would not fear you,
    King of the nations,
    for it is your due!
Among all the wisest of the nations,
    and in all their domains,
    there is none like you.(E)
One and all they are stupid and senseless,
    the instruction from nonentities—only wood!
Silver plates brought from Tarshish,
    and gold from Ophir,
The work of the artisan
    and the handiwork of the smelter,
Clothed with violet and purple—
    all of them the work of skilled workers.

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For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
    they cut a tree out of the forest,
    and a craftsman(A) shapes it with his chisel.(B)
They adorn it with silver(C) and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so it will not totter.(D)
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;(E)
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.(F)
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm(G)
    nor can they do any good.”(H)

No one is like you,(I) Lord;
    you are great,(J)
    and your name is mighty in power.
Who should not fear(K) you,
    King of the nations?(L)
    This is your due.
Among all the wise leaders of the nations
    and in all their kingdoms,
    there is no one like you.

They are all senseless(M) and foolish;(N)
    they are taught by worthless wooden idols.(O)
Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish(P)
    and gold from Uphaz.
What the craftsman and goldsmith have made(Q)
    is then dressed in blue and purple—
    all made by skilled workers.

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