42. Yet the women, wrapped in cords, sit by the roads, burning olive-stones.
43. And when any one of them, having been attracted by someone passing by, would sleep with him, she reproaches her neighbor because she was not found worthy, as she was, nor was her cord broken.
44. But all things that occur with them are false; in what way, then, is it to be considered or said that they are gods?
45. Yet they have been made by the workmen and the goldsmiths. They will be nothing else but what the priests want them to be.
46. For the artisans themselves, who make them, do not exist for a long time. So then, can these things, which have been made by them, be gods?
47. Yet they have bequeathed falsehoods and disgrace after this to the future.
48. For when they are overcome by battle or evil, the priests consider among themselves where they may hide themselves with them.
49. Therefore, why would they be perceived to be gods, who can neither free themselves from war, nor rescue themselves from evils?