The Foolishness of Idolatry

(Isa 44:9–20; Jer 10:1–16; Let Jer 8–73)

10 But miserable, with their hopes set on dead things, are those

who give the name “gods” to the works of human hands,

gold and silver fashioned with skill,

and likenesses of animals,

or a useless stone, the work of an ancient hand.

11 A skilled woodcutter may saw down a tree easy to handle

and skillfully strip off all its bark,

and then with pleasing workmanship

make a useful vessel that serves life’s needs,

12 and burn the cast-off pieces of his work

to prepare his food, and eat his fill.

13 But a cast-off piece from among them, useful for nothing,

a stick crooked and full of knots,

he takes and carves with care in his leisure,

and shapes it with skill gained in idleness;b

he forms it in the likeness of a human being,

14 or makes it like some worthless animal,

giving it a coat of red paint and coloring its surface red

and covering every blemish in it with paint;

15 then he makes a suitable niche for it,

and sets it in the wall, and fastens it there with iron.

16 He takes thought for it, so that it may not fall,

because he knows that it cannot help itself,

for it is only an image and has need of help.

17 When he prays about possessions and his marriage and children,

he is not ashamed to address a lifeless thing.

18 For health he appeals to a thing that is weak;

for life he prays to a thing that is dead;

for aid he entreats a thing that is utterly inexperienced;

for a prosperous journey, a thing that cannot take a step;

19 for money-making and work and success with his hands

he asks strength of a thing whose hands have no strength.

Folly of a Navigator Praying to an Idol

14 Again, one preparing to sail and about to voyage over raging waves

calls upon a piece of wood more fragile than the ship that carries him.

2 For it was desire for gain that planned that vessel,

and wisdom was the artisan who built it;