Isaiah 46

1 Bel 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.

Bel bows down, Nebo bends low; their idols are carried off on beasts of burden, a heavy weight for the tired animals.

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

They bend low and bow down together—they can't help rescue their idols, and they themselves go off 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;

Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all those who are left of the people of Israel. I have looked after you since you were born, carrying you from birth.

4 and 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.

Even when you're old, I will still be your God; even when your hair turns white, I will still support you. I made you, I will carry you, I will support you, and I will save you.

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

Who will you liken me to? Who will you reckon to be my equal? Who will you compare me with, as if we were alike?

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.

There are those who extravagantly tip out gold from their bags, and weigh out silver on the scales, and hire a goldsmith to make them a god they can bow down to and worship.

7 They 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.

They lift the idol onto their shoulders, carry it along, and then put it in place. It stays there and doesn't move. Even when people cry out to it for help, it doesn't answer—it can't save them from their troubles.

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

Remember this, and act like men! Think about it, you rebels!

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 what I've done for you since the beginning, for I am God, and there is no God apart from me. I am God, and there is none like me.

10 declaring 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;

I am the one who can predict what will happen in the end from the very beginning, declaring from ancient times what the future will bring. Whatever I plan will take place; I will accomplish everything I wish.

11 calling 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.

I'm calling a bird of prey from the east, a man from a distant country who will carry out my plan. I have spoken, and I will make sure it happens. I have made my plan, and I will carry it out.

12 Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, who are far from righteousness:

Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are such a long way from doing what's right!

13 I 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.

Very shortly I am going to make things right—it won't be long. I will come with my salvation without delay—I will save Zion to demonstrate my glory to Israel.