28. Priests sell what is sacrificed to their gods and use the money on themselves. And the wives of the priests preserve the sacrifices with salt for use later, instead of sharing them with the poor and helpless.
29. Even women who are having their monthly period or women who have just given birth are allowed to touch the sacrifices. All this proves that they are not gods — do not worship them.
30. How can they ever be called gods, when women are allowed to make offerings to these things made of wood, silver, and gold?
31. The priests even sit in the temples when they are in mourning, with torn clothes and shaved, uncovered heads.
32. The priests roar and shout in the presence of their gods as if they were taking part in a funeral feast.
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.