Isaiah 46

¹Bel is bent down, Nebo is falling; their images are on the beasts and on the cattle: the things which you took about have become a weight to the tired beast.

²They are bent down, they are falling together: they were not able to keep their images safe, but they themselves have been taken prisoner.

³Give ear to me, O family of Jacob, and all the rest of the people of Israel, who have been supported by me from their birth, and have been my care from their earliest days:

⁴Even when you are old I will be the same, and when you are grey-haired I will take care of you: I will still be responsible for what I made; yes, I will take you and keep you safe.

⁵Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?

⁶As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.

⁷They put him on their backs, and take him up, and put him in his fixed place, from which he may not be moved; if a man gives a cry for help to him, he is unable to give an answer, or get him out of his trouble.

⁸Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.

⁹Let the things which are past come to your memory: for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me;

¹⁰Making clear from the first what is to come, and from past times the things which have not so far come about; saying, My purpose is fixed, and I will do all my pleasure;

¹¹Sending for a bird of strong flight from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country; I have said it, and I will give effect to it; the thing designed by me will certainly be done.

¹²Give ear to me, you feeble-hearted, who have no faith in my righteousness:

¹³My righteousness is near, it is not far off; salvation will come quickly; and I will make Zion free, and give Israel my glory.

Isaiah 46

¹Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are on the animals, and on the livestock: the things that you carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary.

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

³"Listen to me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borne from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;

⁴and even to old age I am he, and even to gray hairs will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry, and will deliver.

⁵"To whom will you liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

⁶Some pour out gold from the bag, and weigh silver in the balance. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god. They fall down-yes, they worship.

⁷They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands, from its place it shall not move: yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

⁸"Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, you transgressors.

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

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

¹¹calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.

¹²Listen to me, you stout-hearted, who are far from righteousness:

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