Yeshayahu 44:6-20 ישעיהו מ״ד:ו׳-כ׳

Thus says the Lord the King of Yisra᾽el, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

And who is like me? let him proclaim it, let him declare it, and set it in order for me, from when I appointed the eternal people; let them relate for themselves the things that will come, and are to be.

Fear not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? for you are my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? indeed there is no Rock; I know not any.

They that make a carved idol are all of them vanity; and the things they delight in, do not profit; and their witnesses see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

Who has fashioned a god, or cast an idol? it is profitable for nothing.

Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are but men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; they shall fear, they shall be ashamed together.

The ironsmith makes an axe, and works in the coals, and fashions it with hammers, works it with the strength of his arms: if he is hungry, his strength fails: if he drinks no water, he is faint.

The carpenter stretches out his rule; he marks it out with a pencil; he fits it with chisels, and he marks it out with the compass, and makes it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.

He hews him down cedars, and takes the pine and the oak, which he strengthens for himself among the trees of the forest: he plants a forest tree and the rain nourishes it.

Then shall it be for a man for fuel: for he will take of it to warm himself; indeed, he kindles it, and bakes bread! or else he makes a god, and prostrates himself to it; he makes of it a carved idol, and bows himself down before it.

Half of it he burns in the fire; with this half of it he eats meat; he roasts the roast, and is satisfied: indeed, he warms himself, and says, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:

and of the rest of it he makes a god, his carved idol: he falls down to it, and worships it, and prays to it, and says, Deliver me; for thou art my god.

They have not known nor understood: for he has shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

And none considers in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned half of it in the fire; I have even baked bread upon its embers; I have roasted meat, and eaten it: and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? shall I fall down to worship the stock of a tree?

He feeds on ashes: a deceived heart has turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?