22. Let your idols come in and tell us what will happen. Idols, tell us what happened in the beginning. We will listen closely so that we can make a decision. Tell us what will happen in the future.
23. What signs did you give in the past to prove that you really are gods? Do something! Do anything, good or bad, so that we can see that you are alive. Then we might fear and respect you.
24. “Look, you false gods are worthless. You cannot do anything. Only some horrible fool would want to worship you.”
25. “I called someone in the north to come. He is coming from the east where the sun rises, and he honors my name. He tramples kings the way a potter softens clay with his feet.
26. “Who told us about this before it happened so that we could say he was right? None of your idols told us anything. They didn’t say a word, and they cannot hear anything you say.
27. I, the Lord, was the first one to tell Zion about these things. I sent a messenger to Jerusalem to say, ‘Look, your people are coming back!’”
28. I looked at those false gods. Not one of them said anything. They had no advice to offer. I asked them questions, but they didn’t say a word.
29. Those gods are all less than nothing. They cannot do anything. They are worthless.