26. Because of this, if they fall to the ground, they do not get up by themselves; and if someone sets it upright, they will not stand firm on their own; yet, just like the dead, offerings are placed next to them.
27. The priests themselves sell their sacrifices, and they spend it wastefully; and, in like manner, their wives take part of it, never sharing anything with the sick or the beggars.
28. Fertile and menstruous women contaminate their sacrifices. And so, knowing from this that they are not gods, you should not fear them.
29. For what reason are they called gods? It is because the women serve before the gods of silver and gold and wood,
30. and the priests sit in their houses, with torn garments, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing on their heads.
31. But they roar, shouting out to their gods, just as at a feast for the dead.
32. The priests take away the garments of their gods, and clothe their wives and their sons.
33. And whether they endure evil from someone, or good, they are not able to repay it. They can neither establish a king, nor remove him.
34. Similarly, they can neither give riches, nor avenge evil. If anyone makes a vow to them, and does not keep it, they cannot require it.
35. They cannot free a man from death, nor rescue the weak from the strong.
36. They cannot restore sight to the blind, nor free a man from need.
37. They will not have mercy on the widow, nor do good to orphans.
38. Their gods of wood, and of stone, and of gold, and of silver, are like stones from the mountain; and those who worship them will be confounded.
39. In what way, then, is it to be supposed or said that they are gods?
40. For even the Chaldeans themselves do not honor these, who, when they hear about a mute, unable to speak, they offer him to Bel, asking from him that he may speak,
41. as if these, who are unable to move, would be able to perceive. And even they themselves, when they shall understand this, will abandon them, for, having come to their senses, they do not consider them to be gods.