4. Your children will grow like a tree in the grass.They will be like poplar trees growing beside streams of water.
5. One person will say, ‘I belong to the Lord.’Another will use the name Jacob.Another will sign his name ‘I am the Lord’s.’And another will use the name Israel.”
6. The Lord is the king of Israel.The Lord of heaven’s armies saves Israel.The Lord says, “I am the beginning and the end.I am the only God.
7. There is no other God like me.If there is, then that god should come and prove it.Who has announced coming events from the beginning?He should tell what will happen in the future.
8. Don’t be afraid! Don’t worry!I have always told you what will happen.You are my witnesses.There is no other God.I know of no other Rock. I am the only One.”
9. Some people make idols, but they are worth nothing.People love them, but they are useless.Those people are witnesses for the statues. But those people cannot see.They know nothing. They don’t know enough to be ashamed.
10. Who made these false gods?Who made these useless idols?
11. The workmen who made those gods will be ashamed!Those workmen are only human.If they all would come together,they would all be ashamed and afraid.
12. One workman uses tools to heat iron.He works over hot coals.He uses his hammer to beat the metal and make a statue.He uses his powerful arms.But when he becomes hungry, he loses his power.If he does not drink water, he becomes tired.
13. Another workman uses a line and a compassto draw lines on the wood.Then he uses his chisels to cut a statue from wood.He uses his calipers to measure the statue.This way, the workman makes the wood look exactly like a man.And this statue of a man sits in the house.
14. A man cuts down cedaror gets cypress or oak trees.Those trees grew by their own power in the forest.Or he plants a pine tree, and the rain makes it grow.
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!