Baruch 6:38-72

New Catholic Bible

³⁸ These wooden statues overlaid with gold and silver are like stones quarried from the mountains, and those who worship them will be put to shame. ³⁹ How then can anyone consider them to be gods or call them gods?

⁴⁰ Even the Chaldeans^[a] themselves betray their lack of respect for them, for when they see someone who is incapable of speech, they lead the mute into the temple and ask Bel to give that person the power of speech, as though Bel were able to understand. ⁴¹ However, they are unable to reflect on their foolish practice and abandon these gods, for they lack all sense of perception. ⁴² Meanwhile women, with cords around their waists, burn bran for incense. ⁴³ And whenever one of these has been solicited by a passer-by and lain with him, she taunts her neighbor who was not chosen because of a lesser degree of attractiveness and who has not had her cord broken. ⁴⁴ Everything that has to do with these gods is fraudulent. How then can anyone consider them to be gods or call them so?

⁴⁵ Nature of Idols. Idols are fashioned by carpenters and goldsmiths, and they can be nothing more than what their artisans wish them to be. ⁴⁶ Even those who produce them cannot last long. ⁴⁷ How, then, can the things made by them be gods? They have bequeathed nothing but frauds and dishonor to their descendants. ⁴⁸ When war or a disaster befalls them, the priests consult among themselves where they can hide with their gods. ⁴⁹ How, then, can anyone fail to realize that these are not gods when they are unable to save themselves from war or disaster?

⁵⁰ Since they are composed of nothing but wood that has been overlaid with gold and silver, they eventually will be recognized for the frauds that they are. It will be crystal-clear to every nation and king that they are not gods but have been created by human hands, and that they do not possess the slightest degree of divine power.

⁵¹ Who can fail to realize that they are not gods? ⁵² They cannot appoint a king to rule over a country or supply people with rain. ⁵³ They cannot regulate their own affairs or remedy an injustice, because they have no power. ⁵⁴ They are like crows fluttering between heaven and earth. When fire breaks out in a temple that houses these wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver, the priests will dash for safety, but they themselves will be consumed in the flames like timbers. ⁵⁵ They cannot offer any resistance to a king or enemy forces. ⁵⁶ How, then, can anyone assert or still believe that they are gods?

Absolute Uselessness of Idols. These idols of wood overlaid with gold and silver are not able to prevent being plundered by thieves and bandits. ⁵⁷ Anyone of a mind to do so will strip them of their gold and silver and run off, also, with the robes in which they were garbed, and they are powerless to help themselves. ⁵⁸ It is far better to be a king who displays his courage or a household utensil of use to its owner than these false gods; better even the door of a house that safeguards whatever is within than these false gods; better even a wooden pillar in a palace than these false gods.

⁵⁹ The sun and the moon and the stars shine brightly in obedience to the purpose they are assigned. ⁶⁰ Flashes of lightning are seen over a large area, and the wind likewise blows throughout the land. ⁶¹ When God issues a command to the clouds to pass over the whole earth, they obey, ⁶² and fire that is sent from above to consume mountains and forests does what it has been ordered. However, these idols cannot be compared with these forces of nature, either in beauty or in power. ⁶³ Therefore, you cannot consider them to be gods or call them such, since they are powerless to pronounce judgment or to be of help to anyone. ⁶⁴ Therefore, realizing that they are not gods, do not fear them.

⁶⁵ These idols cannot curse or bless kings, ⁶⁶ nor can they offer the nations any signs in the heavens or shine like the sun or provide light like the moon. ⁶⁷ Wild beasts are more blessed, for they can save themselves by fleeing to a place of safety. ⁶⁸ In no respect is there the slightest evidence that they are gods; therefore, do not fear them. ⁶⁹ These wooden idols, overlaid with silver and gold, provide no greater protection than does a scarecrow in a field of cucumbers. ⁷⁰ Like a thornbush in a garden upon which every species of bird perches, or like a corpse thrown out into the darkness, are these wooden gods overlaid with gold and silver. ⁷¹ The purple and the linen rotting on their backs give clear evidence that they are not gods. In the end they will be eaten away and bring dishonor to their country. ⁷² Far more fortunate, then, is the upright person who has no idols, for such a one will never incur dishonor.