2 Thus says the Lord:
^a“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 are¹ futile;
For ^aone 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 ^afasten it with nails and hammers
So that it will not topple. ‡

5 They are upright, like a palm tree,
And ^athey cannot speak;
They must be ^bcarried,
Because they cannot go by themselves.
Do not be afraid of them,
For ^cthey cannot do evil,
Nor can they do any good.” ‡