35
and they cannot make a person wealthy or give him any money. If someone makes a vow to them but does not keep it, they will never make him pay.
36
They can never rescue a person from death, and they never help a weak person against one who is strong.
37
They cannot restore sight to the blind or save anyone in distress.
38
They cannot offer any mercy or give help to widows or orphans.
39
These things made of wood and covered with silver and gold are as powerless as stone taken from the mountains; and the people who worship them will be put to shame.
40
How can anyone think that they are gods or call them gods? The Babylonians bring dishonor on their own gods.
41
When someone cannot speak, they take him to the temple and ask Bel to give him the power of speech, as if Bel could understand anything.
1
42
But even when the people realize that their gods cannot help, they are stupid enough to go on worshiping them.
43
Not only that, but women wrap cords around themselves and sit alongside the road burning incense and offering themselves as prostitutes. When one of them is taken off for sex, she returns to ridicule the woman next to her who was not beautiful enough to be chosen.
44
Everything about these idols is false. How can anyone think that they are gods or call them gods?
45
Woodworkers and goldsmiths make these gods, so they can never be anything other than what these people want them to be.