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 sinketh down; Nebo falleth; Their images are laid upon beasts and cattle; Those that ye once bore are packed upon them; A burden to the weary 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 sink down; they fall together; They cannot rescue the burden; 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,

Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel; Ye that have been borne by me from your birth, That have been carried by me from your earliest breath!

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; Even to hoar hairs I will carry you; I have done it, and I will still bear you; I will carry, and will deliver you.

5 To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?

To whom will ye liken me, and compare me? Yea, to whom will ye compare me, that we may be like?

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 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 it.

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 him upon the shoulder, and carry him; They set him in his place, and there he standeth; From his place he moveth not; Yea, one may cry to him, yet doth he not answer, Nor save him out of his distress.

8 Remember this, and show yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.

Remember these things, and show yourselves men; Lay them to heart, ye apostates!

9 Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God—and there is none like Me.

Remember the former things in ancient times! For I am God, and there is none else; 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.

Declaring the end from the beginning; From ancient times the things that were not yet done; Saying, My purpose shall stand, 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.

Calling from the East the eagle, The man that executeth my purpose from a far country; I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

12 Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.

Hearken to me, ye stubborn-hearted, That are far from deliverance!

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 near my deliverance; it is not far off; My salvation shall not tarry; I will give to Zion salvation, To Israel, my glory.