⁶ Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith^(A) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.^(B)

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

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.