28. women ritually unclean or at childbirth handle their sacrifices. From such things, know that they are not gods; do not fear them.
29. How can they be called gods? Women set out the offerings for these gods of silver and gold and wood,
30. and in their temples the priests squat with torn tunic and with shaven hair and beard, and with their heads uncovered.
31. They shout and wail before their gods as others do at a funeral banquet.
32. The priests take some of the clothing from their gods and put it on their wives and children.
33. Whether these gods are treated well or badly by anyone, they cannot repay it. They can neither set up nor remove a king.
34. They cannot give anyone riches or pennies; if one fails to fulfill a vow to them, they will not exact it.
35. They neither save anyone from death, nor deliver the weak from the strong,
36. nor do they restore sight to the blind, or rescue anyone in distress.
37. The widow they do not pity, the orphan they do not help.
38. These gilded and silvered wooden statues are no better than stones from the mountains; their worshipers will be put to shame.
39. How then can it be thought or claimed that they are gods?
40. Even the Chaldeans themselves have no respect for them; for when they see a deaf mute, unable to speak, they bring forward Bel and expect him to make a sound, as though he could hear.