15. Then he burns the tree.He uses some of the wood for a fire to keep himself warm.He also starts a fire to bake his bread.But he uses part of the wood to make a god. Then he worships it!He makes the idol and bows down to it!
16. The man burns half of the wood in the fire.He uses the fire to cook his meat.And he eats the meat until he is full.He burns the wood to keep himself warm. He says,“Good! Now I am warm. I can see because of the fire’s light.”
17. But the man makes a statue from the wood that is left. He calls it his god.He bows down to it and worships it.He prays to it and says,“You are my god. Save me!”
18. Those people don’t know what they are doing. They don’t understand!It is as if their eyes are covered so they can’t see.Their minds don’t understand.
19. They have not thought about these things.They don’t understand.They have never thought to themselves,“I burned half of the wood in the fire.I used the hot coals to bake my bread.I cooked and ate my meat.And I used the wood that was left to make this hated thing.I am worshiping a block of wood!”
20. He doesn’t know what he is doing.His confused mind leads him the wrong way.He cannot save himself.He cannot say, “This statue I am holding is a false god.”
21. The Lord says, “People of Jacob, remember these things!People of Israel, remember you are my servants.I made you. You are my servants.So Israel, I will not forget you.
22. I have swept away your sins like a big cloud.I have removed your sins like a cloud that disappears into the air.Come back to me because I saved you.”
23. Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things!Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts!Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God.Sing, too, you trees in the forest!The Lord saved the people of Jacob!The Lord showed his greatness when he saved Israel.
24. The Lord saved you.He formed you while you were still in your mother’s body.The Lord says, “I, the Lord, made everything!I alone stretched out the skies.I spread out the earth by myself.
25. I show that the lying prophets’ signs are false.I make fools of those who do magic.I confuse even wise men.They think they know much, but I make them look foolish.