5. Some will say, “I belong to the Lord”;others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;still others will write on their hand, “The Lord’s,”and will take the name Israel.
6. ‘This is what the Lord says –Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty:I am the first and I am the last;apart from me there is no God.
7. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it.Let him declare and lay out before mewhat has happened since I established my ancient people,and what is yet to come –yes, let them foretell what will come.
8. Do not tremble, do not be afraid.Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago?You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me?No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.’
9. All who make idols are nothing,and the things they treasure are worthless.Those who would speak up for them are blind;they are ignorant, to their own shame.
10. Who shapes a god and casts an idol,which can profit nothing?
11. People who do that will be put to shame;such craftsmen are only human beings.Let them all come together and take their stand;they will be brought down to terror and shame.
12. The blacksmith takes a tooland works with it in the coals;he shapes an idol with hammers,he forges it with the might of his arm.He gets hungry and loses his strength;he drinks no water and grows faint.
13. The carpenter measures with a lineand makes an outline with a marker;he roughs it out with chiselsand marks it with compasses.He shapes it in human form,human form in all its glory,that it may dwell in a shrine.
14. He cut down cedars,or perhaps took a cypress or oak.He let it grow among the trees of the forest,or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.