4 We have not been misledby wicked artists,who made bright-colored idols
5 to encourage fools to worshipthose lifeless images.
6 Those who make or worshipidols as objects of hopewill get what they deservefor loving such evil things.
7 Potters form ordinary dishes and special dishes from the same lump of clay, and only the potters decide which ones will be ordinary or special.
8 Then—wasting their energy—these potters form a useless idol from the same clay. And not long ago, these potters themselves were made from the soil and will soon turn back into soil, just like all other humans, when it is time to return our borrowed souls.
9 But these potters don't care that we all must die or that life is short. They consider it a wonderful thing to mold false gods, and all they care about is competing with others, who make idols out of gold or silver or copper.
10 The heart of such workers is made of ashes, their hope is worth no more than dirt, and their lives are of less value than clay,