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 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 stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And have gone into captivity themselves.
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 “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,
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 to old age, I [am] He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, indeed, I carry and 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 do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?
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.
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 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 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 this, and show yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.
Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.
9 Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God—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 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.
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 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.
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 Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
Give ear to me, you feeble-hearted, who have no faith in my 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!”
My righteousness is near, it is not far off; salvation will come quickly; and I will make Zion free, and give Israel my glory.
