Their idols[a] are like scarecrows in a cucumber field,
    and (A)they cannot speak;
(B)they have to be carried,
    for they cannot walk.
Do not be afraid of them,
    (C)for they cannot do evil,
    neither is it in them to do good.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 10:5 Hebrew They

Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field,
    their idols cannot speak;(A)
they must be carried
    because they cannot walk.(B)
Do not fear them;
    they can do no harm(C)
    nor can they do any good.”(D)

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(A)They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
    they set it in its place, and it stands there;
    (B)it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
    or save him from his trouble.

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They lift it to their shoulders and carry(A) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.(B)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;(C)
    it cannot save(D) them from their troubles.

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You know that (A)when you were pagans (B)you were led astray to (C)mute idols, however you were led.

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You know that when you were pagans,(A) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.(B)

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23 (A)Tell us what is to come hereafter,
    that we may know that you are gods;
(B)do good, or do harm,
    that we may be dismayed and terrified.[a]
24 Behold, (C)you are nothing,
    and your work is less than nothing;
    an abomination is he who chooses you.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 41:23 Or that we may both be dismayed and see

23     tell us what the future holds,
    so we may know(A) that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,(B)
    so that we will be dismayed(C) and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing(D)
    and your works are utterly worthless;(E)
    whoever chooses you is detestable.(F)

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They have mouths, (A)but do not speak;
    eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
    noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
    feet, but do not walk;
    and they do not make a sound in their throat.
(B)Those who make them become like them;
    so do all who trust in them.

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They have mouths, but cannot speak,(A)
    eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
    noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
    feet, but cannot walk,
    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

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14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of[a] the beast (A)it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast (B)that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not (C)worship the image of the beast (D)to be slain.

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Footnotes

  1. Revelation 13:14 Or on behalf of

14 Because of the signs(A) it was given power to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived(B) the inhabitants of the earth.(C) It ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.(D) 15 The second beast was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that the image could speak and cause all who refused to worship(E) the image to be killed.(F)

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Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that (A)“an idol has no real existence,” and that (B)“there is no God but one.”

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So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:(A) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”(B) and that “There is no God but one.”(C)

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19 (A)Woe to him (B)who says to a wooden thing, Awake;
    to a silent stone, Arise!
Can this teach?
Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver,
    and (C)there is no breath at all in it.

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19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’(A)
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver;(B)
    there is no breath in it.”(C)

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The Idols of Babylon and the One True God

46 (A)Bel bows down; Nebo stoops;
    their idols are on beasts and livestock;
these things you carry are borne
    as burdens on weary beasts.

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Gods of Babylon

46 Bel(A) bows down, Nebo stoops low;
    their idols(B) are borne by beasts of burden.[a]
The images that are carried(C) about are burdensome,
    a burden for the weary.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 46:1 Or are but beasts and cattle

20 (A)“Assemble yourselves and come;
    draw near together,
    you survivors of the nations!
(B)They have no knowledge
    who (C)carry about their wooden idols,
(D)and keep on praying to a god
    that cannot save.

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20 “Gather together(A) and come;
    assemble, you fugitives from the nations.
Ignorant(B) are those who carry(C) about idols of wood,
    who pray to gods that cannot save.(D)

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The Folly of Idolatry

(A)All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. 10 (B)Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?

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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)

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16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
    they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
    nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them,
    so do all who trust in them.

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16 They have mouths, but cannot speak,(A)
    eyes, but cannot see.
17 They have ears, but cannot hear,
    nor is there breath(B) in their mouths.
18 Those who make them will be like them,
    and so will all who trust in them.

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