9. Sometimes the priests secretly take away the gold and silver from their gods to spend on themselves and give to prostitutes in the brothels.
10. The Gentiles dress these gods of silver, gold, and wood with clothing just like people. But these idols can’t be rescued from rust and rotting.
11. Even though the idols are dressed in rich purple clothing, the Gentiles have to wipe off the idols’ faces because of the dust in the temple that thickly covers them.
12. One idol has a royal staff, like a person who is a regional judge, but the idol can’t destroy the person who offends it.
13. Another one has a dagger or an ax in its right hand, but it can’t defend itself from war or robbers.
14. Clearly they are no gods, so don’t be afraid of them.
15. Just as a person’s utensil is useless after it’s broken, so are the Gentiles’ gods after they have been placed in their temples.