Thematic Bible: What is not profitable


Thematic Bible




What profits the graven image that its maker has shaped it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusts in it, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that says to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in it.


Has a nation changed its gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Verse ConceptsNegotiationPolytheismExchanging Good For BadGod Bestowing GloryNo Help In Other Gods



They that make a graven image are all of them nothing; and their precious things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who fashions a god, or molds a graven image, that is profitable for nothing?

But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the descendants of the adulterer and the harlot. Against whom do you make sport? against whom do you open your mouth wide, and stick out the tongue? are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood, Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks? read more.
Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a grain offering. Should I receive comfort in these? Upon a lofty and high mountain have you set your bed: even there you went up to offer sacrifice. Behind the doors also and the doorposts have you set up your symbol: for you have uncovered yourself to another than me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them; you loved their bed where you saw it. And you went to the king with ointment, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your messengers far off, and did debase yourself even unto sheol. You are wearied in the length of your way; yet you said not, There is no hope: you have found the life of your own hand; therefore you were not grieved. And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and you fear me not? I will declare your righteousness, and your works; for they shall not profit you.

O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the nations shall come unto you from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things in which there is no profit. Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own life? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?