Isaiah 46
1 Bel is bowed down, Nebo bendeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things ye carried are laid on, a burden to the weary [beast].
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 bend, they are bowed down together; they could not deliver the burden, and themselves are 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 Hearken unto me, house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, ye who have been borne from the belly, who 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 unto hoary hairs I will carry [you]: It is I that have made, and I will bear, and 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 ye liken me and make me equal, or compare me, that we may be like?
To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
6 — They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance; they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, 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 him on the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place; there he standeth, he doth not remove from his place: yea, one crieth unto him, and he answereth not; he saveth him not 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 shew yourselves men; call it to mind, ye 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 none else; [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 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;
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 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. Yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, 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 Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:
Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not delay; and I will give salvation in Zion, [and] unto Israel my glory.
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!”
