(SEE 12:1)

At noon Elijah started making fun of them: "Pray louder! He is a god! Maybe he is day-dreaming or relieving himself, or perhaps he's gone off on a trip! Or maybe he's sleeping, and you've got to wake him up!"

You have taught many people and given strength to feeble hands.

When someone stumbled, weak and tired, your words encouraged him to stand.

Honest words are convincing, but you are talking nonsense.

If you were in my place and I in yours, I could say everything you are saying. I could shake my head wisely and drown you with a flood of words.

I could strengthen you with advice and keep talking to comfort you.

Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness.

Tell everyone who is discouraged, "Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies."

With whom does God consult in order to know and understand and to learn how things should be done?

"The people of distant lands have seen what I have done; they are frightened and tremble with fear. So they all assemble and come.

The carpenter says to the goldsmith, 'Well done!' The one who beats the idol smooth encourages the one who nails it together. They say, 'The soldering is good'--- and they fasten the idol in place with nails.