THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES Old Testament Prophecy - Angelfire

them announce to you the upcoming things before they come. 8 Do not disguise
yourselves. A Did you not hear from the beginning, and did I not tell you? You are
witnesses if there is a God beside me, and there were none at that time. 9 All those who
form and carve are vain, those who perform their desires which will not benefit them.
Instead, they will be ashamed, 10 all those who form a god and carve things which are
not beneficial. 11 They all withered from where they originated, and they are mute due
to men. Let them all gather and stand together; let them be disgraced and ashamed
together.
12 For the craftsman sharpened iron. He worked it with an axe and bored it with an
awl; he worked it with the arm of his strength. He will be hungry and weak, and will not
drink water. 13 The craftsman chose a piece of wood, set it up with a measure, and
arranged it with glue. He made it like the form of a man and like the beauty of a
person, to set it up in a house. 14 He cut this wood from a forest, which the Lord planted
and the rain made grow 15 so that it might be for men to burn. He took part of it and
warmed himself; they burned and baked loaves of bread over them. The rest they
worked into gods, and they are worshiping them. 16 Half of it they burned up in the fire;
they burned and baked loaves of bread over them. B He roasted meat over it, ate, and
was satisfied; he warmed himself and said, `I am pleased that I warmed myself and
saw the fire.´ 17 The rest he made into a carved god; he worships it and prays to it,
saying, `Rescue me, for you are my God.´
18 They do not know how to be intelligent, for they were blinded from seeing with
their eyes and understanding with their hearts. 19 He did not plan in his heart, consider
in his soul, or know with his intelligence that he burned up half of it in the fire, and over
its coals baked loaves of bread and roasted meat and ate, and made the rest of it into
an abomination, and they are worshiping it. 20 Know that their hearts are ashes. They
are wandering, and no one is able to rescue his soul. Look, will you not say, `There is a
lie in my right hand´?
21 Remember these things, O Jacob and Israel, for you are my servant. I formed you
as my servant; O Israel, do not forget me. 22 For behold, I blotted out your lawless acts
like a cloud and your sins like gloom. Return to me, and I will redeem you." 23 Be
cheerful, O heavens, for God showed mercy to Israel. Blow the trumpet, O foundations
of the earth; cry out, O mountains, with cheerfulness, O hills and all trees which are on
them, for God redeemed Jacob, and Israel will be glorified.
24 The Lord who redeems you and who forms you from the womb says this: "I am
the Lord who completes all things. I alone extended heaven and solidified the earth.
25 Who else will scatter from the heart the signs of the ventriloquists and their
divinations, by turning the intelligent back and making their counsel foolish, 26 by
confirming the word of his servant and verifying the counsel of his messengers? The
A SA ¦ + and do not wander V
B Half of it they burned up in the fire; they burned and baked loaves of bread over
them. S ¦ Half of it he burned up in the fire; they burned and baked loaves of bread
over them. A ¦ Half of it he burned up in the fire, and with half of it he baked loaves of
bread on the coals. V