33. Whether one treats them badly or well, the gods aren’t able to repay in kind. They aren’t able to install or remove a ruler.
34. They can’t give either wealth or money. If someone makes a solemn promise and doesn’t keep it, they can’t enforce it.
35. They can’t save a person from death or rescue a weak person from a strong one.
36. They can’t restore sight to the blind or rescue a person in an emergency.
37. They can’t show mercy to a widow, nor can they do any good for an orphan.
38. These wooden things covered in gold and silver are like stones from a mountain. Their servants will be humiliated.
39. So why should anyone consider or call them gods?
40. In addition, even the Chaldeans dishonor them. When they see a person who is unable to speak, they bring out Bel and expect Bel to make a sound as if he were able to understand.
41. Even after observing this, the Chaldeans themselves are unable to abandon the idols because they have no sense.
42. The women, with cords wrapped around them, sit along the streets and burn corn husks as incense.
43. When one of these women is dragged away by someone to have sex, she makes fun of the one nearest her by saying that the other woman wasn’t as worthy as she, nor has the woman’s cord been broken.
44. Everything that is done for the gods is phony. So why should anyone consider or call them gods?
45. Carpenters and goldsmiths make them. They can be only what these designers want them to be.
46. Their creators won’t live long themselves, so how can the things they have made be gods?
47. These designers leave behind something fake and disgraceful for those who come after them.