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,