Yahweh mocks the idols

21 I, Yahweh, the true king of Israel say to you nations,

“Tell what your idols can do for you!

22 Bring them here to tell us what is going to happen!

Ask them to tell us what things happened long ago,

in order that we may think about those things,

and learn if those things that they predicted really happened.

Or, ask them to tell us about the future,

in order that we can know what will happen.

23 Yes, those idols should tell us what will happen in the future.

If they do that, we will know that they are really gods.

Tell them to do something—either something good or something bad!

Tell them to do something that will cause us to be amazed and afraid!

24 But that is impossible, because idols are absolutely worthless [HYP];

they can do nothing,

and I detest those who decide to worship idols.”