TREE-WORSHIP 37 



both worketh in the coals, and fashloneth it 

 with hammers, and worketh it with the strength 

 of his arms ; yea, he is hungry, and his strength 

 faileth ; he drinketh no water, and is faint. 

 The carpenter stretcheth out his rule ; he 

 marketh it out with a line ; he fitteth it with 

 planes, and he marketh it out with the com- 

 pass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, 

 according to the beauty of a man ; that it may 

 remain in the house. He heweth him down 

 cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, 

 which he strengtheneth for himself among the 

 trees of the forest : he planteth an ash, and the 

 rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a 

 man to burn : for he will take thereof, and 

 warm himself; yea he kindleth it, and baketh 

 bread ; yea he maketh a god, and worshippeth 

 it; he maketh it a graven image and faileth 

 down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the 

 fire ; with part thereof he eateth flesh ; he 

 roasteth meat, and is satisfied : yea, he warmeth 

 himself, and saith. Aha, I am warm, I have 

 seen the fire : and the residue thereof he maketh 

 a god, even his graven image : he faileth down 

 unto it, and saith. Deliver me ; for thou art 

 my God." Perhaps the prophet is a little less 



