Jeremiah

Wheel of Heaven Translation

Jeremiah 10: the idols of the nations and the living God

Direct

Established or uncontested across mainstream sources, or a direct description of the project itself.

The Method

Jeremiah (Hebrew Yirmeyahu) is the prophet of Jerusalem's last years before the Babylonian exile. This translation covers Jeremiah 10, the chapter that the Raëlian canon cites: "do not be dismayed at the signs of the skies"; the idols of the nations, cut from the forest and decked with silver and gold; and YHWH, the living God, who made the earth by his power. Verse 11 is in Aramaic, and the note says so. Verses with a note end in a bracketed marker [ ]; select it to open the note.

About this translation

Edition
Pointed Hebrew Masoretic text of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), via Sefaria. The English translation and notes are released CC0.
Coverage
Chapter 10 translated (25 verses): every chapter of the book cited in the Raëlian canon. The rest of the book is not translated.
Review status
Reviewed and signed off.

Jeremiah 10 — The idols of the nations and the living God

1
Hear the word that YHWH has spoken to you, house of Israel.
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
שִׁמְע֣וּ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
2
Thus says YHWH: Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be dismayed at the signs of the skies, for the nations are dismayed at them.
to whom the word of Jehovah came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אֶל־דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַגּוֹיִם֙ אַל־תִּלְמָ֔דוּ וּמֵאֹת֥וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם אַל־תֵּחָ֑תּוּ כִּֽי־יֵחַ֥תּוּ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מֵהֵֽמָּה׃
3
For the customs of the peoples are vanity: for it is a tree that one cuts out of the forest, the work of the hands of a craftsman with the axe.
It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
כִּֽי־חֻקּ֥וֹת הָֽעַמִּ֖ים הֶ֣בֶל ה֑וּא כִּֽי־עֵץ֙ מִיַּ֣עַר כְּרָת֔וֹ מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵ֥י־חָרָ֖שׁ בַּֽמַּעֲצָֽד׃
4
With silver and with gold he adorns it; with nails and with hammers they fasten it, so that it does not totter.
Now the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
בְּכֶ֥סֶף וּבְזָהָ֖ב יְיַפֵּ֑הוּ בְּמַסְמְר֧וֹת וּבְמַקָּב֛וֹת יְחַזְּק֖וּם וְל֥וֹא יָפִֽיק׃
5
They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they do not speak; they must surely be carried, for they do not walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good.
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.
כְּתֹ֨מֶר מִקְשָׁ֥ה הֵ֙מָּה֙ וְלֹ֣א יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ נָשׂ֥וֹא יִנָּשׂ֖וּא כִּ֣י לֹ֣א יִצְעָ֑דוּ אַל־תִּֽירְא֤וּ מֵהֶם֙ כִּי־לֹ֣א יָרֵ֔עוּ וְגַם־הֵיטֵ֖יב אֵ֥ין אוֹתָֽם׃ (ס)
6
There is none like you, YHWH; you are great, and your name is great in might.
Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child.
מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמ֖וֹךָ יְהוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל אַתָּ֛ה וְגָד֥וֹל שִׁמְךָ֖ בִּגְבוּרָֽה׃
7
Who would not fear you, King of the nations? For it is your due; for among all the wise of the nations and in all their kingdom there is none like you.
But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go, and whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak.
מִ֣י לֹ֤א יִֽרָאֲךָ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם כִּ֥י לְךָ֖ יָאָ֑תָה כִּ֣י בְכָל־חַכְמֵ֧י הַגּוֹיִ֛ם וּבְכָל־מַלְכוּתָ֖ם מֵאֵ֥ין כָּמֽוֹךָ׃
8
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the instruction of vanities is wood.
Be not afraid because of them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith Jehovah.
וּבְאַחַ֖ת יִבְעֲר֣וּ וְיִכְסָ֑לוּ מוּסַ֥ר הֲבָלִ֖ים עֵ֥ץ הֽוּא׃
9
Silver beaten into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple are their clothing; they are all the work of skilled men.
Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth:
כֶּ֣סֶף מְרֻקָּ֞ע מִתַּרְשִׁ֣ישׁ יוּבָ֗א וְזָהָב֙ מֵֽאוּפָ֔ז מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חָרָ֖שׁ וִידֵ֣י צוֹרֵ֑ף תְּכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ לְבוּשָׁ֔ם מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֲכָמִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃
10
But YHWH is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.
וַֽיהוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ אֱמֶ֔ת הֽוּא־אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּ֖ים וּמֶ֣לֶךְ עוֹלָ֑ם מִקִּצְפּוֹ֙ תִּרְעַ֣שׁ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹֽא־יָכִ֥לוּ גוֹיִ֖ם זַעְמֽוֹ׃ (ס)
11
Thus you shall say to them: "The gods who did not make the skies and the earth — these shall perish from the earth and from under the skies."
Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree.
כִּדְנָה֙ תֵּאמְר֣וּן לְה֔וֹם אֱלָ֣הַיָּ֔א דִּֽי־שְׁמַיָּ֥א וְאַרְקָ֖א לָ֣א עֲבַ֑דוּ יֵאבַ֧דוּ מֵֽאַרְעָ֛א וּמִן־תְּח֥וֹת שְׁמַיָּ֖א אֵֽלֶּה׃ (ס)
12
He who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the skies —
Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.
עֹשֵׂ֥ה אֶ֙רֶץ֙ בְּכֹח֔וֹ מֵכִ֥ין תֵּבֵ֖ל בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ נָטָ֥ה שָׁמָֽיִם׃
13
when he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the skies, and he makes the vapors rise from the end of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain, and brings out the wind from his treasuries.
And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a boiling caldron; and the face thereof is from the north.
לְק֨וֹל תִּתּ֜וֹ הֲמ֥וֹן מַ֙יִם֙ בַּשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיַּעֲלֶ֥ה נְשִׂאִ֖ים מִקְצֵ֣ה ארץ [הָאָ֑רֶץ] בְּרָקִ֤ים לַמָּטָר֙ עָשָׂ֔ה וַיּ֥וֹצֵא ר֖וּחַ מֵאֹצְרֹתָֽיו׃
14
Every man is brutish, without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his carved image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
Then Jehovah said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
נִבְעַ֤ר כָּל־אָדָם֙ מִדַּ֔עַת הֹבִ֥ישׁ כָּל־צוֹרֵ֖ף מִפָּ֑סֶל כִּ֛י שֶׁ֥קֶר נִסְכּ֖וֹ וְלֹא־ר֥וּחַ בָּֽם׃
15
They are vanity, a work of delusion; in the time of their visitation they shall perish.
For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith Jehovah; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
הֶ֣בֶל הֵ֔מָּה מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה תַּעְתֻּעִ֑ים בְּעֵ֥ת פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם יֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
16
Not like these is the portion of Jacob, for he is the former of all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; YHWH of hosts is his name.
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
לֹֽא־כְאֵ֜לֶּה חֵ֣לֶק יַעֲקֹ֗ב כִּֽי־יוֹצֵ֤ר הַכֹּל֙ ה֔וּא וְיִ֨שְׂרָאֵ֔ל שֵׁ֖בֶט נַֽחֲלָת֑וֹ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (ס)
17
Gather up your bundle from the land, you who dwell under siege.
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at them, lest I dismay thee before them.
אִסְפִּ֥י מֵאֶ֖רֶץ כִּנְעָתֵ֑ךְ ישבתי [יֹשֶׁ֖בֶת] בַּמָּצֽוֹר׃ (ס)
18
For thus says YHWH: Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, so that they may find it.
For, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
כִּֽי־כֹה֙ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הִנְנִ֥י קוֹלֵ֛עַ אֶת־יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י הָאָ֖רֶץ בַּפַּ֣עַם הַזֹּ֑את וַהֲצֵר֥וֹתִי לָהֶ֖ם לְמַ֥עַן יִמְצָֽאוּ׃ (ס)
19
Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is a sickness, and I must bear it."
And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee.
א֥וֹי לִי֙ עַל־שִׁבְרִ֔י נַחְלָ֖ה מַכָּתִ֑י וַאֲנִ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי אַ֛ךְ זֶ֥ה חֳלִ֖י וְאֶשָּׂאֶֽנּוּ׃
20
My tent is laid waste, and all my cords are snapped; my children have gone out from me, and they are not; there is no one to stretch out my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.
אָהֳלִ֣י שֻׁדָּ֔ד וְכָל־מֵיתָרַ֖י נִתָּ֑קוּ בָּנַ֤י יְצָאֻ֙נִי֙ וְאֵינָ֔ם אֵין־נֹטֶ֥ה עוֹד֙ אָהֳלִ֔י וּמֵקִ֖ים יְרִיעוֹתָֽי׃
21
For the shepherds have become brutish, and they have not inquired of YHWH; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
כִּ֤י נִבְעֲרוּ֙ הָֽרֹעִ֔ים וְאֶת־יְהוָ֖ה לֹ֣א דָרָ֑שׁוּ עַל־כֵּן֙ לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ וְכָל־מַרְעִיתָ֖ם נָפֽוֹצָה׃ (ס)
22
The sound of a report — behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the land of the north, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling of jackals.
ק֤וֹל שְׁמוּעָה֙ הִנֵּ֣ה בָאָ֔ה וְרַ֥עַשׁ גָּד֖וֹל מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֑וֹן לָשׂ֞וּם אֶת־עָרֵ֧י יְהוּדָ֛ה שְׁמָמָ֖ה מְע֥וֹן תַּנִּֽים׃ (ס)
23
I know, YHWH, that the way of man is not his own; it is not in a man who walks to direct his steps.
יָדַ֣עְתִּי יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א לָאָדָ֖ם דַּרְכּ֑וֹ לֹֽא־לְאִ֣ישׁ הֹלֵ֔ךְ וְהָכִ֖ין אֶֽת־צַעֲדֽוֹ׃
24
Correct me, YHWH, but in measure; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing.
יַסְּרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֖ה אַךְ־בְּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט אַל־בְּאַפְּךָ֖ פֶּן־תַּמְעִטֵֽנִי׃
25
Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the families that do not call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob — they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.
שְׁפֹ֣ךְ חֲמָתְךָ֗ עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יְדָע֔וּךָ וְעַל֙ מִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּשִׁמְךָ֖ לֹ֣א קָרָ֑אוּ כִּֽי־אָכְל֣וּ אֶֽת־יַעֲקֹ֗ב וַאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙ וַיְכַלֻּ֔הוּ וְאֶת־נָוֵ֖הוּ הֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃ (פ)
Editorial history

Review record. The chapter file carries status: stable (v1.0.0) with a named human reviewer (zarazinsfuss), signed off on 2026-11-01 in the Latter Prophets wave (LP1) of the canon-cited program. The editor report, the reviewer reports in the chapter files and the sign-off package (data-library/zechariah-woh/wave-lp1-signoff-package.md) record every decision.

Selection. Part of the program to translate, as whole chapters, every biblical chapter that the three Raëlian canon books (The Book Which Tells the Truth, Extra-Terrestrials Took Me to Their Planet, Let's Welcome the Extra-Terrestrials) cite. With this release the program is complete: 87 chapters.

Conventions. The prophetic volumes follow the Isaiah conventions: ʾĕlōhîm is "God", ʾereṣ "earth" in cosmic contexts and "land" for territory, divine rûaḥ a lower-case "spirit", tôrâ "teaching", maśśāʾ "oracle", and nəʾum YHWH "declares YHWH". Proper names are in their English forms. The canon's readings appear only in notes headed "Wheel of Heaven reading (reception note, not a translation claim)".

Production. Drafted by Claude Opus 5.5 and taken through the Wheel of Heaven Translation Program pipeline (Translator → Editor → Reviewer → human sign-off). Central glossary 2.84.0–2.90.0; jeremiah-woh overlay v1.0.0. Reference translation: ASV (1901). Methodology: Source-Text Translation.

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