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19
They light them candles, yea, more than for themselves, whereof they cannot see one.
20
They are as one of the beams of the temple, yet they say their hearts are gnawed upon by
things creeping out of the earth; and when they eat them and their clothes, they feel it not.
21
Their faces are blacked through the smoke that cometh out of the temple.
22
Upon their bodies and heads sit bats, swallows, and birds, and the cats also.
23
By this ye may know that they are no gods: therefore fear them not.
24
Notwithstanding the gold that is about them to make them beautiful, except they wipe off the
rust, they will not shine: for neither when they were molten did they feel it.
25
The things wherein there is no breath are bought for a most high price.
26
They are borne upon shoulders, having no feet whereby they declare unto men that they be
nothing worth.
27
They also that serve them are ashamed: for if they fall to the ground at any time, they cannot
rise up again of themselves: neither, if one set them upright, can they move of themselves: neither,
if they be bowed down, can they make themselves straight: but they set gifts before them as unto
dead men.
28
As for the things that are sacrificed unto them, their priests sell and abuse; in like manner
their wives lay up part thereof in salt; but unto the poor and impotent they give nothing of it.
29
Menstruous women and women in childbed eat their sacrifices: by these things ye may know
that they are no gods: fear them not.
30
For how can they be called gods? because women set meat before the gods of silver, gold,
and wood.
31
And the priests sit in their temples, having their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven,
and nothing upon their heads.
32
They roar and cry before their gods, as men do at the feast when one is dead.
33
The priests also take off their garments, and clothe their wives and children.
34
Whether it be evil that one doeth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: they
can neither set up a king, nor put him down.
35
In like manner, they can neither give riches nor money: though a man make a vow unto them,
and keep it not, they will not require it.
36
They can save no man from death, neither deliver the weak from the mighty.
37
They cannot restore a blind man to his sight, nor help any man in his distress.
38
They can shew no mercy to the widow, nor do good to the fatherless.
39
Their gods of wood, and which are overlaid with gold and silver, are like the stones that be
hewn out of the mountain: they that worship them shall be confounded.
40
How should a man then think and say that they are gods, when even the Chaldeans themselves
dishonour them?
41
Who if they shall see one dumb that cannot speak, they bring him, and intreat Bel that he may
speak, as though he were able to understand.
1193
KJV Bible