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 has bowed down, Nebo is stooping, Their idols have been for the beast and for livestock, Your burdens are loaded, a burden to the weary.

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

They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And have gone into captivity themselves.

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.

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of Israel, Who are borne from the belly, Who are carried from the womb,

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 to old age, I [am] He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, indeed, I carry and deliver.

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

To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?

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.

They are pouring out gold from a bag, And they weigh silver on the beam, They hire a refiner, and he makes it a god, They fall down, indeed, they bow themselves.

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 lift him up on the shoulder, They carry him, and cause him to rest in his place, And he stands, he does not move from his place, Indeed, one cries to him, and he does not answer, He does not save him from his adversity.

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

Remember this, and show yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.

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.

Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God—and there is none 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.

Declaring the latter end from the beginning, And from of old that which has not been done, Saying, My counsel stands, And all My delight I do.

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.

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, The man of My counsel from a far land, Indeed, I have spoken, indeed, I bring it in, I have formed [it], indeed, I do it.

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

Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from 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.

I have brought My righteousness near, It is not far off, And My salvation—it does not linger, And I have given salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory!”