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 has been broken. Nebo has been crushed. Their idols have been placed upon beasts and cattle, your grievous heavy burdens, even unto exhaustion.
2 They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And have gone into captivity themselves.
They have been melted down, or have been smashed together. They were not able to save the one who carried them, and their life will 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, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are carried in my bosom, who were born from my womb.
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 am the same. And even with your grey hairs, I will carry you. I have made you, and I will sustain you. I will carry you, and I will save you.
5 To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
To whom would you liken me, or equate me, or compare me, or consider me to be similar?
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.
You take gold from a bag, and you weigh silver on a scale, so as to hire a goldsmith to make a god. And they fall prostrate and adore.
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 carry him on their shoulders, supporting him, and they set him in his place. And he will stand still and will not move from his place. But even when they will cry out to him, he will not hear. He will not save them from tribulation.
8 Remember this, and show yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.
Remember this, and be confounded. Return, you transgressors, to the heart.
9 Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God—and there is none like Me.
Remember the past ages. For I am God, and there is no other god. 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.
From the beginning, I announce the last things, and from the start, the things that have not yet been done, saying: My plan will stand firm, and my entire will shall be done.
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 call a bird from the east, and from a far away land, the man of my will. And I have spoken it, and I will carry it out. I have created, and I will act.
12 Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
Hear me, you who are hard of heart, who are far from justice!
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 have brought my justice near. It will not be far away, and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation in Zion, and my glory in Israel.
