en_tn/isa/44/20.md

It is as if he were eating ashes

Yahweh compares worshiping idols to eating ashes. This means the idols are worthless and cannot help anyone. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile)

his deceived heart misleads him

AT: "he has deceived himself and gone astray"

He cannot rescue his soul

AT: "The person who worships idols cannot save himself" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche)