33. They take the clothing off their gods and give it to their wives and children.
34. It doesn't matter whether a person helps or harms these gods, since they cannot pay him back. They are not able to make anyone a king or to dethrone him,
35. and they cannot make a person wealthy or give him any money. If someone makes a vow to them but does not keep it, they will never make him pay up.
36. They can never rescue a person from death, and they never help a weak person against one who is strong.
37. They cannot restore sight to the blind or save anyone in distress.
38. They cannot offer any mercy or give help to widows or orphans.
39. These things made of wood and covered with silver and gold are as powerless as stone taken from the mountains; and the people who worship them will be put to shame.
40. How can anyone think that they are gods or call them gods?The Babylonians bring dishonour on their own gods.
41. When someone cannot speak, they take him to the temple and ask Bel to give him the power of speech, as if Bel could understand anything.
42. But even when the people realize that their gods cannot help, they are stupid enough to go on worshipping them.
43. Not only that, but women wrap cords round themselves and sit beside the road burning incense and offering themselves as prostitutes. When one of them is taken off for sex, she returns to ridicule the woman next to her who was not beautiful enough to be chosen.
44. Everything about these idols is false. How can anyone think that they are gods or call them gods?
45. Woodworkers and goldsmiths make these gods, so they can never be anything other than what these people want them to be.