Isaiah 46

1 Bel bows down. Nebo stoops. Their idols are carried by animals, and on the livestock. The things that you carried around are heavy loads, a burden for the weary.

Bel 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.

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

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

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

Give 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:

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

Even 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.

5 “To whom will you compare me, and consider my equal, and compare me, as if we were the same?

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

6 Some 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.

As 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.

7 They bear it on their shoulder. They carry it, and set it in its place, and it stands there. It cannot move from its place. Yes, one may cry to it, yet it can not answer. It cannot save him out of his trouble.

They 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.

8 “Remember this, and show yourselves men. Bring it to mind again, you transgressors.

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

9 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other. I am God, and there is none like me.

Let 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;

10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done. I say: My counsel will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Making 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;

11 I call 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 planned. I will also do it.

Sending 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.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness!

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

13 I bring my righteousness near. It is not far off, and my salvation will not wait. I will grant salvation to Zion, my glory to Israel.

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