8. And, just like a virgin who loves to decorate herself, so do they take up gold and make designs with it.
9. Their gods have crowns of certified gold upon their heads, from which the priests subtract gold and silver, and spend it on themselves.
10. Moreover, they even give from it to prostitutes, and use it to adorn kept women, and when they receive it back from the kept women, they use it to adorn their gods.
11. But these cannot be freed from rust and moths.
12. Although they are covered with a purple garment, they must wipe off their face, because of the dust of the house, which is very great around them.
13. Yet he who holds a scepter like a man, like the judge of the region, cannot put to death one who sins against him.
14. And though he holds in his hand a sword and an axe, yet he cannot free himself from war and robbers. From this let it be known to you that they are not gods.
15. Therefore, do not fear them. For just as the vessel a man uses becomes useless when broken, so also are their gods.
16. When they are set up in a house, their eyes are full of dust from the feet of those who enter.
17. And like one who has offended the king and is surrounded at every door, or like a corpse about to be carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be plundered by robbers.
18. They light candles to them, and in great number, and still they are unable to see, for they are like logs in the house.