13 (A)The craftsman of wood extends a measuring line; he outlines it with a marker. He works it with carving knives and outlines it with a compass, and makes it like the form of a man, like the beauty of (B)mankind, so that it may sit in a (C)house. 14 He will cut cedars for himself, and he takes a holm-oak or another oak and lets it grow strong for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a laurel tree, and the rain makes it grow. 15 Then it becomes something for a person to burn, so he takes one of them and gets warm; he also makes a fire and bakes bread. He also (D)makes a god and worships it; he makes it a carved image and (E)bows down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he eats meat, he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, “Aha! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 Yet the rest of it he (F)makes into a god, his carved image. He bows down before it and worships; he also (G)prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.”

18 They do not (H)know, nor do they understand, for He has (I)smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see, and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend. 19 No one [a]remembers, nor is there (J)knowledge or understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then [b]I make the rest of it into an (K)abomination, [c]I bow down before a block of wood!” 20 He [d](L)feeds on ashes; a (M)deceived heart has misled him. And he cannot save [e]himself, nor say, “(N)Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 44:19 Lit returns to his heart
  2. Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I make?
  3. Isaiah 44:19 Or shall I bow...?
  4. Isaiah 44:20 Or is a companion of ashes
  5. Isaiah 44:20 Lit his soul

13 The carpenter(A) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,(B)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.(C)
14 He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,(D) and the rain made it grow.
15 It is used as fuel(E) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships(F) it;
    he makes an idol and bows(G) down to it.
16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.(H)
17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.(I)
He prays(J) to it and says,
    “Save(K) me! You are my god!”
18 They know nothing, they understand(L) nothing;
    their eyes(M) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
19 No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding(N) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;(O)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable(P) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”(Q)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;(R) a deluded(S) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?(T)

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