²¹ “Present your case,^(A)” says the Lord.
    “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.^(B)
22 “Tell us, you idols,
    what is going to happen.^(C)
Tell us what the former things^(D) were,
    so that we may consider them
    and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,^(E)
23     tell us what the future holds,
    so we may know^(F) that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,^(G)
    so that we will be dismayed^(H) and filled with fear.
²⁴ But you are less than nothing^(I)
    and your works are utterly worthless;^(J)
    whoever chooses you is detestable.^(K)

²⁵ “I have stirred^(L) up one from the north,^(M) and he comes—
    one from the rising sun who calls on my name.
He treads^(N) on rulers as if they were mortar,
    as if he were a potter treading the clay.
²⁶ Who told of this from the beginning,^(O) so we could know,
    or beforehand, so we could say, ‘He was right’?
No one told of this,
    no one foretold^(P) it,
    no one heard any words^(Q) from you.
²⁷ I was the first to tell^(R) Zion, ‘Look, here they are!’
    I gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news.^(S)
28 I look but there is no one^(T)—
    no one among the gods to give counsel,^(U)
    no one to give answer^(V) when I ask them.
²⁹ See, they are all false!
    Their deeds amount to nothing;^(W)
    their images^(X) are but wind^(Y) and confusion.

⁹ All who make idols^(A) are nothing,
    and the things they treasure are worthless.^(B)
Those who would speak up for them are blind;^(C)
    they are ignorant, to their own shame.^(D)
10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,^(E)
    which can profit nothing?^(F)
11 People who do that will be put to shame;^(G)
    such craftsmen are only human beings.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
    they will be brought down to terror and shame.^(H)

¹² The blacksmith^(I) takes a tool
    and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
    he forges it with the might of his arm.^(J)
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
    he drinks no water and grows faint.^(K)
13 The carpenter^(L) measures with a line
    and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
    and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in human form,^(M)
    human form in all its glory,
    that it may dwell in a shrine.^(N)
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,^(O) and the rain made it grow.
¹⁵ It is used as fuel^(P) 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^(Q) it;
    he makes an idol and bows^(R) 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.^(S)”
¹⁷ From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
    he bows down to it and worships.^(T)
He prays^(U) to it and says,
    “Save^(V) me! You are my god!”