Let all the nations gather together, let the peoples assemble! Who among them could have declared this, or announced to us the earlier things? Let them produce witnesses to prove themselves right, that one may hear and say, “It is true!”
Come close and declare; let them take counsel together: Who announced this from the beginning, declared it from of old? Was it not I, the Lord, besides whom there is no other God? There is no just and saving God but me.
They lift it to their shoulders to carry; when they set it down, it stays, and does not move from the place. They cry out to it, but it cannot answer; it delivers no one from distress.
Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, they cannot speak; They must be carried about, for they cannot walk. Do not fear them, they can do no harm, neither can they do good.
If you do not tell me the dream, there can be but one decree for you. You have conspired to present a false and deceitful interpretation to me until the crisis is past. Tell me the dream, therefore, that I may be sure that you can also give its correct interpretation.”