Isaiah 46

¹ Bel bows down ; Nebo stoops ; their idols are on beasts and livestock ; these things you carry are borne as burdens on weary beasts.

² They stoop ; they bow down together ; they cannot save the burden , but themselves go into captivity .

³ Listen to me, O house of Jacob , all the remnant of the house of Israel , who have been borne by me from before your birth , carried from the womb ;

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

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

⁶ Those who lavish gold from the purse , and weigh out silver in the scales , hire a goldsmith , and he makes it into a god ; then they fall down and worship !

⁷ They lift it to their shoulders , they carry it, they set it in its place , and it stands there ; it cannot move from its place . If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble .

⁸ Remember this and stand firm , recall it to mind , you transgressors ,

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,

¹⁰ declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done , saying , My counsel shall stand , and I will accomplish all my purpose ,

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

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

¹³ I bring near my righteousness ; it is not far off , and my salvation will not delay ; I will put salvation in Zion , for Israel my glory .

¹ Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden. The images that are carried about are burdensome, a burden for the weary.

² They stoop and bow down together; unable to rescue the burden, they themselves go off into captivity.

³ “Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born.

⁴ Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

⁵ “With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

⁶ Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.

⁷ They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.

⁸ “Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.

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

¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.`

¹¹ From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do.

¹² Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness.

¹³ I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion, my splendor to Israel.

¹ Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle : your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast .

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

³ Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb :

⁴ And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you : I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you .

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

⁶ They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god : they fall down, yea, they worship.

⁷ They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove : yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

⁸ Remember this, and shew yourselves men : bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

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

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

¹¹ Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country : yea, I have spoken it , I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it , I will also do it.

¹² Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness :

¹³ I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry : and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. Isaiah 45 Books Isaiah 47