Isaiah 46
1 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.
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
2 They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And have gone into captivity themselves.
The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.
3 “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,
“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.
4 Even to old age, I [am] He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, indeed, I carry and deliver.
Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.
5 To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
To whom will you liken Me or count Me equal? To whom will you compare Me, that we should be alike?
6 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.
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
7 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.
They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles.
8 Remember this, and show yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.
Remember this and be brave; take it to heart, you transgressors!
9 Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God—and there is none like Me.
Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me.
10 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.
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
11 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.
I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
12 Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
Listen to Me, you stubborn people, far removed from righteousness:
13 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!”
I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.
