Listen most carefully: "Don't take the godless nations as your models. Don't be impressed by their glamour and glitz, no matter how much they're impressed.
It's like a scarecrow in a cabbage patch--can't talk! Dead wood that has to be carried--can't walk! Don't be impressed by such stuff. It's useless for either good or evil."
Who can fail to be impressed by you, King of the nations? It's your very nature to be worshiped! Look far and wide among the elite of the nations. The best they can come up with is nothing compared to you.
Gilded with silver foil from Tarshish, covered with gold from Uphaz, Hung with violet and purple fabrics-- no matter how fancy the sticks, they're still sticks.
But the Portion-of-Jacob is the real thing. He put the whole universe together And pays special attention to Israel. His name? GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!
GOD has given notice: "Attention! I'm evicting Everyone who lives here, And right now--yes, right now! I'm going to press them to the limit, squeeze the life right out of them."
My house is ruined-- the roof caved in. Our children are gone-- we'll never see them again. No one left to help in rebuilding, no one to make a new start!
Vent your anger on the godless nations, who refuse to acknowledge you, And on the people who won't pray to you-- The very ones who've made hash out of Jacob, yes, made hash And devoured him whole, people and pastures alike.