Surely he cutscedarsfor himself, and takesa cypressor an oakand raises[it] for himself among the treesof the forest.He plantsa fir,and the rainmakesit grow.
He who is too impoverishedfor [such] an offeringSelectsa treethat does not rot;He seeksout for himself a skillfulcraftsmanTo preparean idolthat will not totter.
[Another] shapeswood,he extendsa measuringline;he outlinesit with red chalk.He worksit with planesand outlinesit with a compass,and makesit like the formof a man,like the beautyof man,so that it may sitin a house.
Then it becomes[something] for a manto burn,so he takesone of them and warmshimself; he alsomakesa fireto bakebread.He alsomakesa godand worshipsit; he makesit a gravenimageand fallsdownbefore it.
My peopleconsulttheir woodenidol, and their [diviner's] wandinformsthem; For a spiritof harlotryhas led[them] astray,And they have playedthe harlot,[departing] from their God.
"Woeto him who saysto a [piece of] wood,Awake!'To a mutestone,'Arise!'[And] that is [your] teacher?Behold,it is overlaidwith goldand silver,And thereis nobreathat allinsideit.
