But the restof it he makesinto a god,his gravenimage.He fallsdownbefore it and worships;he also praysto it and says,"Deliverme, for you are my god."
Then they tookthe oxwhichwas giventhem and they preparedit and calledon the nameof Baalfrom morninguntilnoonsaying,"O Baal,answerus." But therewas novoiceand nooneanswered.And they leapedaboutthe altarwhichthey made.
So they criedwith a loudvoiceand cutthemselves according to their customwith swordsand lancesuntilthe bloodgushedout on them.
Their landhas also been filledwith idols;They worshipthe workof their hands,That whichtheir fingershave made.
It cameabout as he was worshipingin the houseof Nisrochhis god,that Adrammelechand Sharezerhis sonskilledhim with the sword;and they escapedinto the landof Ararat.And Esarhaddonhis sonbecamekingin his place.
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.
Halfof it he burnsin the fire;over[this] halfhe eatsmeatas he roastsa roastand is satisfied.He alsowarmshimself and says,"Aha!I am warm,I have seenthe fire."
"Gatheryourselves and come;Drawneartogether,you fugitivesof the nations;They havenoknowledge,Who carryabout their woodenidolAnd prayto a godwho cannotsave.
"Those who lavishgoldfrom the purseAnd weighsilveron the scaleHirea goldsmith,and he makesit [into] a god;They bowdown,indeedthey worshipit.
Who sayto a tree,'You are my father,'And to a stone,'You gaveme birth.'For they have turned[their] backto Me, And not [their] face;But in the timeof their troublethey will say,'Ariseand saveus.'
"Ifit be [so], our Godwhomwe serveis ableto deliverus from the furnaceof blazingfire;and He will deliverus out of your hand,O king.
"Therefore I makea decreethat anypeople,nationor tonguethat speaksanything offensiveagainstthe Godof Shadrach,Meshachand Abed-negoshall be tornlimbfrom limb and their housesreducedto a rubbishheap,inasmuchas thereis noothergodwhois ableto deliverin thisway."
Thenthe kinggaveorders,and Danielwas broughtin and castinto the lions'den.The kingspokeand saidto Daniel,"Your Godwhomyou constantlyservewill Himselfdeliveryou."
"He deliversand rescuesand performssignsand wondersIn heavenand on earth,Whohas [also] deliveredDanielfrom the powerof the lions."
And nowthey sinmoreand more,And makefor themselves moltenimages,Idolsskillfullymade from their silver,Allof them the workof craftsmen.They sayof them, "Let the menwho sacrificekissthe calves!"
"I will cutoffsorceriesfrom your hand,And you will havefortune-tellersnomore.
"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.
"Not onlyis there dangerthat thistradeof oursfallinto disrepute,but alsothat the templeof the greatgoddessArtemisbe regardedas worthlessand that she whomallof Asiaand the worldworshipwill evenbe dethronedfrom her magnificence."
