²³ Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens. The vessels from his house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them,^(A) you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand.^(B) But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in his hand and who controls the whole course of your life.^[a](C)

¹² One of their very own prophets said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”