Part 535 (1/2)

6:11. And these G.o.ds cannot defend themselves from the rust, and the moth.

6:12. But when they have covered them with a purple garment, they wipe their face because of the dust of the house, which is very much among them.

6:13. This holdeth a sceptre as a man, as a judge of the country, but cannot put to death one that offendeth him.

6:14. And this hath in his hand a sword, or an axe, but cannot save himself from war, or from robbers, whereby be it known to you, that they are not G.o.ds.

6:15. Therefore fear them not. For as a vessel that a man uses when it is broken becometh useless, even so are their G.o.ds:

6:16. When they are placed in the house, their eyes are full of dust by the feet of them that go in.

6:17. And as the gates are made sure on every side upon one that hath offended the king, or like a dead man carried to the grave, so do the priests secure the doors with bars and locks, lest they be stripped by thieves.

6:18. They light candles to them, and in great number, of which they cannot see one: but they are like beams in the house.

6:19. And they say that the creeping things which are of the earth, gnaw their hearts, while they eat them and their garments, and they feel it not.

6:20. Their faces are black with the smoke that is made in the house.

6:21. Owls, and swallows, and other birds fly upon their bodies, and upon their heads, and cats in like manner.

6:22. Whereby you may know that they are no G.o.ds. Therefore fear them not.

6:23. The gold also which they have, is for shew, but except a man wipe off the rust, they will not s.h.i.+ne: for neither when they were molten, did they feel it.

6:24. Men buy them at a high price, whereas there is no breath in them.

6:25. And having not the use of feet they are carried upon shoulders, declaring to men how vile they are. Be they confounded also that wors.h.i.+p them.

6:26. Therefore if they fall to the ground, they rise not up again of themselves, nor if a man set them upright, will they stand by themselves, but their gifts shall be set before them, as to the dead.

6:27. The things that are sacrificed to them, their priests sell and abuse: in like manner also their wives take part of them, but give nothing of it either to the sick, or to the poor.

6:28. The childbearing and menstruous women touch their sacrifices: knowing, therefore, by these things that they are not G.o.ds, fear them not.

6:29. For how can they be called G.o.ds? because women set offerings before the G.o.ds of silver, and of gold, and of wood:

6:30. And priests sit in their temples, having their garments rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and nothing upon their heads.

6:31. And they roar and cry before their G.o.ds, as men do at the feast when one is dead.

6:32. The priests take away their garments, and clothe their wives and their children.

6:33. And whether it be evil that one doth unto them, or good, they are not able to recompense it: neither can they set up a king, nor put him down:

6:34. In like manner they can neither give riches, nor requite evil. If a man make a vow to them, and perform it not: they cannot require it.

6:35. They cannot deliver a man from death, nor save the weak from the mighty.

6:36. They cannot restore the blind man to his sight: nor deliver a man from distress.