58. How much better to be a king displaying his valor, or a handy tool in a house, the joy of its owner, than these false gods; better the door of a house, protecting whatever is within, than these false gods; better a wooden post in a palace, than these false gods!
59. The sun and moon and stars are bright, obedient in the task for which they are sent.
60. Likewise the lightning, when it flashes, is a great sight; and the one wind blows over every land.
61. The clouds, too, when commanded by God to proceed across the whole world, fulfill the command;
62. and fire, sent from on high to burn up the mountains and the forests, carries out its command. But these false gods are not their equal, whether in appearance or in power.
63. So it is unthinkable, and cannot be claimed that they are gods. They can neither execute judgment, nor benefit anyone.
64. Know, therefore, that they are not gods; do not fear them.
65. Kings they can neither curse nor bless.
66. They show the nations no signs in the heavens, nor do they shine like the sun, nor give light like the moon.
67. The beasts are better than they—beasts can help themselves by fleeing to shelter.
68. Thus is it in no way apparent to us that they are gods; so do not fear them.
69. For like a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, providing no protection, are their wooden, gilded, silvered gods.
70. Just like a thornbush in a garden on which perches every kind of bird, or like a corpse hurled into darkness, are their wooden, gilded, silvered gods.
71. From the rotting of the purple and the linen upon them, you can know that they are not gods; they themselves will in the end be consumed, and be a disgrace in the land.
72. Better the just who has no idols; such shall be far from disgrace!