#idolatry #insensatezdaidolatry

   The folly of idolatry

⁶ Thus says the Lord, King and Redeemer of Israel, the Lord of hosts:

    "I am the First and the Last;

    there is no other God.

⁷ Who is similar to me?

    Let him present himself in front of me!

    Let him do what I have done since ancient times,

    when I established a people and announced their future.

⁸ Do not tremble, do not be afraid;

    Did I not announce my purposes to you a long time ago?

    You are my witnesses: is there another God besides me?

    At the! There is no other Rock, not even one!"

⁹ How foolish are those who make idols!

    These objects that you cherish so much have no value at all.

    Those who worship idols do not know this,

    therefore they will be ashamed.

¹⁰ Who but a fool would make his own god,

    an idol that can't help you in any way?

¹¹ All who worship idols will be put to shame,

    as well as all these artisans,

    simple mortals who say they are capable of making a god.

    Even if they join forces,

    they will be united in terror and shame.

¹² The blacksmith works in the forge to create a sharp tool;

    he hammers and shapes with all his might.

    From working so hard, he feels hungry and weak,

    he becomes thirsty and faint.

¹³ The sculptor, in turn, measures a block of wood

    and draw a sketch on it.

    He works with a chisel and plane

    and he carves the image of a person.

    Gives the image of human beauty

    and places it in a small sanctuary.

¹⁴ he cuts cedars,

    choose cypress and oak,

    plant a pine tree in the woods,

    so that the rain makes it grow.

¹⁵ Then, he uses part of the wood to make fire

    and with it he heats and bakes bread.

    Then he takes what's left

    and makes himself a god to worship.

    He makes an idol

    and bows before him.

¹⁶ he burns part of the tree to roast meat,

    eat and stay warm.

    “What a good fire!” he says.

    "I don't feel cold anymore!"

¹⁷ So he takes what's left

    and makes his god: a carved idol.

    He bows down before him and worships him,

    pray to him and say:

    "Deliver me,

    for you are my god!"

¹⁸ How much stupidity and ignorance!

    His eyes are closed, and he can't see,

    his mind is closed, and he cannot understand.

¹⁹ He who made the idol does not stop and think:

    "I burned half the wood to keep warm

    and to bake bread and meat;

    How is it possible for the rest to be a god?

    Am I going to bow down to worship a piece of wood?"

²⁰ Such a person feeds on ashes and deceives himself,

    he trusts in something that cannot help her in any way.

    And yet he is unable to ask:

    "Isn't this idol I have in my hands a lie?"

# Restoration to Jerusalem

²¹ "Pay attention, O Jacob,

    for you are my servant, O Israel.

    I, the Lord, formed him

    and I won't forget you.

²² I have driven away your sins like a cloud;

    I have dispersed their evils, like the morning mist.

    Come back to me,

    for I paid the price of your ransom."

²³ Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wonder!

    Shout for joy, O depths of the earth!

    Break out into songs,

    O mountains, forests and all trees!

    For the Lord rescued Jacob

    and he is glorified in Israel.

²⁴ Thus says the Lord,

    your Redeemer and Creator:

    "I am the Lord, who made all things;

    alone I stretched out the heavens.

    Who was with me

    When did I create the earth?

²⁵ I show that false prophets are liars

    and I make fortune tellers look like fools.

    I make the wise men make their predictions wrong

    and thus I prove that they are foolish.

²⁶ But I fulfill the predictions of my prophets!

    Through them I say to Jerusalem:

    ‘This place will be inhabited again’,

    and to the cities of Judah:

    ‘You will be rebuilt;

    I will restore all its bad things.’

²⁷ When I say to the rivers: ‘Dry’,

    they will dry up.

²⁸ When I say about Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’

    he will certainly do whatever I want.

    He will say: ‘Rebuild Jerusalem!’

    and he will command: ‘Restore the temple!’ ".

Isaiah 44:6-28