4. They will spring up with the grassas poplars spring up by streams.
5. One person will say, “I belong to the Lord.”Another will call on the name of Jacob.Another will write on his hand, “The Lord’s,”and he will adopt the name of Israel.
6. The Lord is Israel’s king and defender.He is the Lord of Armies.This is what the Lord says:I am the first and the last,and there is no God except me.
7. If there is anyone like me, let him say so.Let him tell me what happenedwhen I established my people long ago.Then let him predict what will happen to them.
8. Don’t be terrified or afraid.Didn’t I make this known to you long ago?You are my witnesses.Is there any God except me?There is no ⌊other⌋ rock; I know of none.
9. All who make idols are nothing. Their precious treasures are worthless. Their own witnesses do not see or know anything, so they will be put to shame.
10. Nothing comes from making gods or casting metal idols.
11. Everyone associated with the gods will be put to shame. The craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all get together and take their stand. They will be frightened and ashamed together.
12. Blacksmiths shape iron into tools. They work them over the coals and shape them with hammers, working them with their strong arms. They get hungry, and their strength fails. If they don’t drink water, they will faint.
13. Carpenters measure blocks of wood with ⌊chalk⌋ lines. They mark them with pens. They carve them with chisels and mark them with compasses. They carve them into forms of people, beautiful people, so the idols can live in shrines.
14. They cut down cedars for themselves. Then they choose fir trees or oaks. They let them grow strong among the trees in the forest. Then they plant cedars, and the rain makes them grow.
15. These trees become ⌊fuel⌋ for people to burn. So they take some of them and warm themselves with them. They start fires and bake bread. They also make gods from these trees and worship them. They make them into carved statues and bow in front of them.
16. Half of the wood they burn in the fire. Over this half they roast meat that they can eat until they are full. They also warm themselves and say, “Ah! We are warm. We can see the fire!”
17. But the rest of the wood they make into gods, carved statues. They bow to them and worship them. They pray to them, saying, “Rescue us, because you are our gods.”
18. They don’t know or understand anything. Their eyes are plastered shut, so they can’t see. And their minds are closed, so they can’t understand.