²⁹ See, they are all false!
    Their deeds amount to nothing;^(A)
    their images^(B) are but wind^(C) and confusion.

¹³ The prophets^(A) are but wind^(B)
    and the word is not in them;
    so let what they say be done to them.”

²⁴ But you are less than nothing^(A)
    and your works are utterly worthless;^(B)
    whoever chooses you is detestable.^(C)

¹⁸ “Of what value^(A) is an idol^(B) carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image^(C) that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.^(D)

“Do not learn the ways of the nations^(A)
    or be terrified by signs^(B) in the heavens,
    though the nations are terrified by them.
³ For the practices of the peoples are worthless;
    they cut a tree out of the forest,
    and a craftsman^(C) shapes it with his chisel.^(D)
4 They adorn it with silver^(E) and gold;
    they fasten it with hammer and nails
    so it will not totter.^(F)
5 Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;^(G)
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.^(H)
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm^(I)
    nor can they do any good.”^(J)

⁶ No one is like you,^(K) Lord;
    you are great,^(L)
    and your name is mighty in power.
⁷ Who should not fear^(M) you,
    King of the nations?^(N)
    This is your due.
Among all the wise leaders of the nations
    and in all their kingdoms,
    there is no one like you.

⁸ They are all senseless^(O) and foolish;^(P)
    they are taught by worthless wooden idols.^(Q)
9 Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish^(R)
    and gold from Uphaz.
What the craftsman and goldsmith have made^(S)
    is then dressed in blue and purple—
    all made by skilled workers.
¹⁰ But the Lord is the true God;
    he is the living God,^(T) the eternal King.^(U)
When he is angry,^(V) the earth trembles;^(W)
    the nations cannot endure his wrath.^(X)

¹² But God made^(Z) the earth^(AA) by his power;
    he founded the world by his wisdom^(AB)
    and stretched out the heavens^(AC) by his understanding.
¹³ When he thunders,^(AD) the waters in the heavens roar;
    he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning^(AE) with the rain^(AF)
    and brings out the wind from his storehouses.^(AG)

¹⁴ Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
    every goldsmith is shamed^(AH) by his idols.
The images he makes are a fraud;^(AI)
    they have no breath in them.
¹⁵ They are worthless,^(AJ) the objects of mockery;
    when their judgment comes, they will perish.
¹⁶ He who is the Portion^(AK) of Jacob is not like these,
    for he is the Maker of all things,^(AL)
including Israel, the people of his inheritance^(AM)—
    the Lord Almighty is his name.^(AN)

⁹ All who make idols^(A) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(B)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(C)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(D)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(E)
    which can profit nothing?^(F)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;^(G)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(H)

¹² The blacksmith^(I) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(J)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(K)
13 The carpenter^(L) 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,^(M)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(N)
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,^(O) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(P) 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^(Q) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(R) 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.^(S)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(T)
He prays^(U) to it and says,
    “Save^(V) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(W) nothing;
    their eyes^(X) 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^(Y) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(Z)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(AA) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(AB)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(AC) a deluded^(AD) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(AE)”

¹⁵ The idols of the nations^(A) are silver and gold,
    made by human hands.^(B)
16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,^(C)
    eyes, but cannot see.
¹⁷ They have ears, but cannot hear,
    nor is there breath^(D) in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,^(A)
    made by human hands.^(B)
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,^(C)
    eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
    noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
    feet, but cannot walk,
    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.