Jeremiah 10:5
Good News Translation
Such idols are like scarecrows in a field of melons; they cannot speak; they have to be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them: they can cause you no harm, and they can do you no good."

New Revised Standard Version
Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good.

Contemporary English Version
An idol is no better than a scarecrow. It can't speak, and it has to be carried, because it can't walk. Why worship an idol that can't help or harm you?

New American Bible
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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
They are framed after the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not speak: they must be carried to be removed, because they cannot go. Therefore fear them not, for they can neither do evil nor good.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

They are framed after the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not speak: they must be carried to be removed, because they cannot go. Therefore fear them not, for they can neither do evil nor good.

speak.

Psalm 115:5-8 They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not. . . .

Psalm 135:16-18 They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they see not. . . .

Habakkuk 2:19 Woe to him that saith to wood: Awake: to the dumb stone: Arise: can it teach? Behold, it is laid over with gold, and silver, and there is no spirit in the bowels thereof.

1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that when you were heathens, you went to dumb idols, according as you were led.

Revelation 13:14,15 And he seduced them that dwell on the earth, for the signs which were given him to do in the sight of the beast: saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which had the wound by the sword and lived. . . .

be borne.

Isaiah 46:1,7 In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and praised. . . .

do evil.

Isaiah 41:23,24 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, and we shall know that ye are gods. Do ye also good or evil, if you can: and let us speak, and see together. . . .

Isaiah 44:9,10 The makers of idols are all of them nothing, and their best beloved things shall not profit them. They are their witnesses, that they do not see, nor understand, that they may be ashamed. . . .

Isaiah 45:20 Assemble yourselves, and come, and draw near together, ye that are saved of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven work, and pray to a god that cannot save.

1 Corinthians 8:4 But as for the meats that are sacrificed to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God but one.

Context
The Sovereignty of God
4He hath decked it with silver and gold: he hath put it together with nails and hammers, that it may not fall asunder. 5They are framed after the likeness of a palm tree, and shall not speak: they must be carried to be removed, because they cannot go. Therefore fear them not, for they can neither do evil nor good.6There is none like to thee, O Lord: thou art great, and great is thy name in might.…
Cross References
1 Corinthians 12:2
You know that when you were heathens, you went to dumb idols, according as you were led.

1 Kings 18:26
And they took the bullock, which he gave them, and dressed it: and they called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying: O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered: and they leaped over the altar that they had made.

Psalm 115:5
They have mouths and speak not: they have eyes and see not.

Psalm 115:7
They have hands and feel not: they have feet and walk not: neither shall they cry out through their throat.

Isaiah 41:23
Shew the things that are to come hereafter, and we shall know that ye are gods. Do ye also good or evil, if you can: and let us speak, and see together.

Isaiah 41:24
Behold, you are of nothing, and your work of that which hath no being: he that hath chosen you is an abomination.

Isaiah 44:10
Who hath formed a god, and made a graven thing that is profitable for nothing?

Isaiah 45:20
Assemble yourselves, and come, and draw near together, ye that are saved of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven work, and pray to a god that cannot save.

Isaiah 46:1
In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and praised.

Isaiah 46:7
You that contribute gold out of the bag, and weigh out silver in the scales: and hire a goldsmith to make a god: and they fall down and worship.

Jeremiah 10:14
Every man is become a fool for knowledge, every artist is confounded in his graven idol: for what he hath cast is false, and there is no spirit in them.

Jeremiah 10:4
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