14 (A)He cuts down cedars, or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also he makes a god and worships it; he makes it an idol and falls down before it. 16 Half of it he burns in the fire. Over the half he eats meat; he roasts it and is satisfied. Also he warms himself and says, “Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire!” 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it. (B)He prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!”

18 They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, “Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an (C)abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” 20 (D)He feeds on (E)ashes; a deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is there not (F)a lie in my right hand?”

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

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