44:14 He cuts down cedars

and acquires a cypress ¹  or an oak.

He gets ²  trees from the forest;

he plants a cedar ³  and the rain makes it grow.

44:15 A man uses it to make a fire; ⁴ 

he takes some of it and warms himself.

Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

Then he makes a god and worships it;

he makes an idol and bows down to it. ⁵ 

44:16 Half of it he burns in the fire –

over that half he cooks ⁶  meat;

he roasts a meal and fills himself.

Yes, he warms himself and says,

‘Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.’

44:17 With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol;

he bows down to it and worships it.

He prays to it, saying,

‘Rescue me, for you are my god!’