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.^(A)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(B)
He prays^(C) to it and says,
    “Save^(D) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(E) nothing;
    their eyes^(F) 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^(G) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(H)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(I) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(J)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(K) a deluded^(L) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(M)”

²¹ “Remember^(N) these things, Jacob,
    for you, Israel, are my servant.^(O)
I have made you, you are my servant;^(P)
    Israel, I will not forget you.^(Q)
22 I have swept away^(R) your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.
Return^(S) to me,
    for I have redeemed^(T) you.”

³ “Listen^(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant^(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,^(G)
    and have carried^(H) since you were born.^(I)
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs^(J)
    I am he,^(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain^(L) you and I will rescue you.

⁵ “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?^(M)

⁸ “Remember^(A) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.^(B)
9 Remember the former things,^(C) those of long ago;^(D)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.^(E)