Idolatry Is Ridiculous

• 9 are nothing, and their delightful things do not profit.
• And their witnesses do not see or know,
  • so they will be ashamed.
  • 10  and cast an image of which he cannot profit?
  • 11  and the artisans are human!
• Let all of them assemble;
  • let them stand up.
• They shall tremble;[fn]
  • they shall be ashamed together.
  • 12 The[fn] works in the coals with his tool and forms it with hammers.
• And he makes it with[fn]
  • indeed, he becomes hungry, and[fn] strength;
  • he does not drink water, and he is faint.
  • 13 The[fn] stretches out a line; he makes an outline of it with a marker.
• He makes it with a knife
  • and makes an outline of it with a compass.
• He makes it like the image of a man,
  • like the beauty of a human, to dwell in a temple.[fn]
  • 14 he[fn] a holm tree and an oak,
• and he lets it grow strong for him among the trees of the forest.
  • He plants a cedar, and the rain makes it grow.
  • 15 [fn] and he takes some of it and grows warm;
  • also, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
• Also, he makes a god and bows in worship;
  • he makes himself an image and bows down to it!
  • 16 the fire; he eats meat over half of it;
  • he roasts a roast and is satisfied.
• Also he grows warm and says, “Ah!
  • I am warm! I see the fire!”
• 17 And he makes the remainder of it into a god!He bows down to his idol,
  • and he bows in worship and prays to him,
  • and he says, “Save me, for you are my god!”
  • 18  and they do not understand,
• for their eyes are besmeared[fn]
  • their[fn][fn]
  • 19 [fn] and there is no knowledge and no understanding to say, “I burned half of it in the fire
• and also I baked bread on its coals;
  • I roasted meat, and I have eaten.
• And I shall make the rest of it into an abomination!
  • I shall bow down to a block of wood!”
  • 20 He feeds on ashes; a[fn] misleads him. And he cannot save[fn] and he cannot say,
    • “Is this not an illusion in my right hand?”