Isaiah 44:12–20

¹²The blacksmith^u 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.^v

He gets hungry and loses his strength;

he drinks no water and grows faint.^w

¹³The carpenter^x 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,^y

human form in all its glory,

that it may dwell in a shrine.^z

¹⁴He 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.

¹⁵It 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.

¹⁶Half 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”

¹⁷From 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!”

¹⁸They know nothing, they understandⁱ nothing;

their eyes^j are plastered over so they cannot see,

and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

¹⁹No 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

²⁰Such 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”