Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.

King James Version

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Holman Bible

for the customs of the peoples are worthless.
Someone cuts down a tree from the forest;
it is worked by the hands of a craftsman with a chisel.

International Standard Version

For the practices of the people are worthless. Indeed, a tree is cut down from the forest; it's the work of the hands of a craftsman with an ax.

A Conservative Version

For the customs of the peoples are vanity. For [a man] cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

American Standard Version

For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

Amplified


For the customs and decrees of the peoples are [mere] delusion [exercises in futility];
It is only wood which one cuts from the forest [to make a god],
The work of the hands of the craftsman with the axe or cutting tool.

Bible in Basic English

For that which is feared by the people is foolish: it is the work of the hands of the workman; for a tree is cut down by him out of the woods with his axe.

Darby Translation

For the statutes of the peoples are vanity; for it is a tree cut out of the forest, worked with a chisel by the hands of the artizan;

Julia Smith Translation

For the laws of the peoples, this vanity: for they cut down a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

King James 2000

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.

Lexham Expanded Bible

For the statutes of the peoples [are] vanity, for it [is] a tree cut down from [the] forest, [the] work of [the] hands of a craftsman with the tool.

Modern King James verseion

For the customs of the people are vain; for one cuts a tree out of the forest with the axe, the work of the hands of the workman.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Yea all the customs and laws of the Gentiles are nothing but vanity. They hew down a tree in the wood with the hands of the workman, and fashion it with the axe;

NET Bible

For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.

New Heart English Bible

For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

The Emphasized Bible

For as for the prescribed customs of the peoples, vanity, they are, - For a tree out of the forest, one cutteth down, Work for the hands of a skilled workman with the axe:

Webster

For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax.

World English Bible

For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cuts a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.

Youngs Literal Translation

For the statutes of the peoples are vanity, For a tree from a forest hath one cut, Work of the hands of an artificer, with an axe,

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
For the customs
חקּה 
Chuqqah 
Usage: 104

of the people
עם 
`am 
Usage: 1867

הבל הבל 
hebel 
Usage: 73

כּרת 
Karath 
Usage: 287

a tree
עץ 
`ets 
Usage: 329

out of the forest
יער 
Ya`ar 
Usage: 58

the work
מעשׂה 
Ma`aseh 
Usage: 234

of the hands
יד 
Yad 
Usage: 1612

of the workman
חרשׁ 
Charash 
Usage: 37

References

Easton

Axe

Fausets

Hastings

Morish

Context Readings

False Gods Contrasted With The Creator

2 This is what Jehovah says: Do not learn the practices of the nations. Do not be frightened by the signs in the sky because they frighten the nations. 3 For the customs of the peoples are delusion;
Because it is wood cut from the forest,
The work of the hands of a craftsman with a cutting tool.
4 They decorate it with silver and with gold. They fasten it with nails and with hammers so that it will not tip over.

Cross References

Isaiah 44:9-20

All who make idols are nothing. The things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind. They are shamefully ignorant.

Isaiah 45:20

Come here, you refugees from the nations. Ignorant people carry wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save anyone.

Leviticus 18:30

Therefore you must follow my instructions. Do not live by the standards of the people who lived there before you. What they do is disgusting. Never become unclean that way. I am Jehovah your God!'

1 Kings 18:26-28

So they took the bull that was given them, and made it ready. They cried out to Baal from morning till the middle of the day. They said: O Baal, give ear to us. But there was no voice and no answer. They jumped up and down before the altar they had made.

Isaiah 40:19-31

As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.

Jeremiah 2:5

Jehovah says: What bad thing (injustice) did your fathers find in me that they went so far away from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless (lead astray) themselves.

Jeremiah 10:8

They are very stupid and foolish. They teach vanity to a tree. Their idol is wood!

Hosea 8:4-6

They chose their own kings. I did not approve. They chose their own princes. Princes I did not know. They made idols with their own silver and gold. Because of this, they will be destroyed!

Habakkuk 2:18-19

What is an idol worth after the carver is done? It is merely a false god. Why trust a speechless image made by human hands from wood or metal?

Matthew 6:7

Large quantities of meaningless words and repetition are not acceptable in prayer. The pagans think their gods will hear long and repetitious prayers.

Romans 1:21

for when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. They did not thank him and were vain in their reasoning, for their foolish hearts were darkened.

1 Peter 1:18

Know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your fathers. [The redemption] was not with corruptible things like silver or gold,

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain