Isaiah 46

1 Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.

2 The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.

4 Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.

5 To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?

6 They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.

7 They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.

8 Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!

9 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.

10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

11 I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.

12 Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:

13 I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.

1 ¶ Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages [were] heavy loaden; [they are] a burden to the weary [beast].

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:

4 And [even] to [your] old age I [am] he; and [even] to hoar hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver [you].

5 ¶ To whom will ye liken me, and make [me] equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, [and] hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, [one] shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that [are] far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

3 Hearken unto me, ye of the house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne in my womb, and lie with me in my mother.

4 Yea, I will bear you up unto old age, and till ye be grey. I will do it; I will lift and carry and save.

5 After whom do ye form me, and to whom do ye compare me? Against whom do ye measure me, that I should be like?

6 They pour out the gold out of the bag, and weigh the silver in the balances, and reward the goldsmith to make it a god, before whom they kneel and worship.

7 They lift him up on the shoulder, and bear him, and set him in his place. There he standeth, and cometh not out of his place. If any man cry unto him, he answereth not, neither helpeth him out of his trouble.

8 Remember these things, and be firm: ye transgressors, enter into your hearts.

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none more, a God like unto whom there is none,

10 Who declareth beforehand that which is to come after, and before that which is to come to pass, saying, My purpose is established, and I will do all that I please.

11 I call unto a bird from the east, and to a man that doeth my bidding, from a far country. What I say, that let come; what I think, that do I.