9
People take gold and make crowns for the heads of their gods, as they would for a girl who loves ornaments;
10
and sometimes the priests secretly take gold and silver from their gods and spend it upon themselves,
11
and even give some of it to the harlots in the brothel. They deck their gods out with garments like men -- these gods of silver and gold and wood,
12
which cannot save themselves from rust and corrosion. When they have been dressed in purple robes,
13
their faces are wiped because of the dust from the temple, which is thick upon them.
14
Like a local ruler the god holds a scepter, though unable to destroy any one who offends it.
15
It has a dagger in its right hand, and has an axe; but it cannot save itself from war and robbers.
16
Therefore they evidently are not gods; so do not fear them.
17
For just as one's dish is useless when it is broken, so are the gods of the heathen, when they have been set up in the temples. Their eyes are full of the dust raised by the feet of those who enter.
18
And just as the gates are shut on every side upon a man who has offended a king, as though he were sentenced to death, so the priests make their temples secure with doors and locks and bars, in order that they may not be plundered by robbers.
19
They light lamps, even more than they light for themselves, though their gods can see none of them.