< Isaiah 46 >
1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary [beast].
Bel is bowed downe: Nebo is fallen: their idoles were vpon the beastes, and vpon the cattell: they which did beare you, were laden with a wearie burden.
2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
They are bowed downe, and fallen together: for they coulde not rid them of the burden, and their soule is gone into captiuitie.
3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which have been borne [by me] from the belly, which have been carried from the womb:
Heare ye me, O house of Iaakob, and all that remaine of the house of Israel, which are borne of me from the wombe, and brought vp of me from the birth.
4 and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry [you]: I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.
Therefore vnto olde age, I the same, euen I will beare you vntill the hoare heares: I haue made you: I will also beare you, and I will cary you and I will deliuer you.
5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
To whom will ye make me like or make me equall, or copare me, that I should be like him?
6 Such as 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 draw gold out of the bagge and weigh siluer in the balance, and hire a goldsmith to make a god of it, and they bowe downe, and worship it.
7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
They beare it vpon the shoulders: they carie him and set him in his place: so doeth he stand, and cannot remoue from his place. Though one crie vnto him, yet can he not answere, nor deliuer him out of his tribulation.
8 Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
Remember this, and be ashamed: bring it againe to minde, O you transgressers.
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 the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none other God, and there is nothing like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not [yet] done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
Which declare the last thing from the beginning: and from of olde, the things that were not done, saying, My counsell shall stand, and I will doe whatsoeuer I will.
11 calling a ravenous bird 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, I will also do it.
I call a birde from the East, and the man of my counsell from farre: as I haue spoken, so will I bring it to passe: I haue purposed it, and I will doe it.
12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:
Heare me, ye stubburne hearted, that are farre from iustice.
13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory,
I bring neere my iustice: it shall not be farre off, and my saluation shall not tarie: for I wil giue saluation in Zion, and my glory vnto Israel.