Isaiah 46

1 Bel, hath crouched, Nebo, is cowering, Their images, are delivered up to beast and to cattle, —The things ye carried about, are become a load, A burden, to 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 have cowered they have crouched at once, And they cannot rescue the burden, —But their own soul, into captivity, hath departed.

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 Hearken unto me O house of Jacob, Even all the remnant of the house of Israel, —Who have been borne from birth, Who have been carried from nativity:

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 unto old age, I, am, the same, And unto grey hairs, I, will bear the burden, —I have made and, I, will carry, Yea, I, will bear the burden 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 can ye liken me or make me equal? Or compare me, and we be like?

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

6 They who pour gold out of a purse, And who weigh silver in a balance, —Who hire a goldsmith that he may make it into a GOD, They adore, yea they bow down;

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 carry him about on the shoulder They bear the burden of him—and set him in his place that he may stand, —Out of his place, will he not move, —Though one even make outcry unto him, he will not answer, Out of one’s trouble, he will not save him.

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 ye this and shew yourselves men, —Bring it back, ye transgressors, to your minds;

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

9 Remember ye the things named in advance from age-past times, —For, I, am, The Mighty One, and there is none else, The Adorable 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 Declaring from the beginning, the latter end, And from olden time, that which had never been done, —Saying My purpose shall stand, and All my pleasure, will I perform;

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 Calling, From the East, a Bird of Prey, From a far country, the Man I intended, —Yea 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 Hearken unto me, Ye valiant of heart, —Who are far away from righteousness:

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

13 I have brought near my righteousness. It shall not be far away, And my deliverance, shall not linger, —But I will give In Zion, deliverance, To Israel, my glory.

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