Isaiah 44:14-20

New International Version

¹⁴ He cut down cedars,
    or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
    or planted a pine,^(A) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(B) for burning;
    some of it he takes and warms himself,
    he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships^(C) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(D) down to it.
¹⁶ Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
    over it he prepares his meal,
    he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
    “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.^(E)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(F)
He prays^(G) to it and says,
    “Save^(H) me! You are my god!”
¹⁸ They know nothing, they understand^(I) nothing;
    their eyes^(J) are plastered over so they cannot see,
    and their minds closed so they cannot understand.
¹⁹ No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding^(K) to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;^(L)
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable^(M) thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”^(N)
20 Such a person feeds on ashes;^(O) a deluded^(P) heart misleads him;
    he cannot save himself, or say,
    “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?^(Q)”