Isaiah 46
1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are carried by animals and beasts of burden. These idols that you carry are a heavy burden for weary animals.
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.
2 Together they bend low, kneel down; they cannot rescue the images, and they themselves have gone off into captivity.
They have stooped, they have bowed together, They have not been able to deliver the burden, And have gone into captivity themselves.
3 Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been carried by me from before your birth, carried from the womb.
“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,
4 Even to your old age I am he, and until your hair is gray I will carry you. I made you and I will bear you; I will carry you and I will rescue you.
Even to old age, I [am] He, and to grey hairs I carry, I made, and I bear, indeed, I carry and deliver.
5 To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble, so that we may be compared?
To whom do you liken Me, and make equal? And compare Me, that we may be like?
6 People pour out gold from the bag and weigh silver on the scale. They hire a metalsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down and worship it.
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.
7 They lift it on their shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place, and it stands in its place and does not move from it. They cry out to it, but it cannot answer nor save anyone from his trouble.
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.
8 Think about these things; never ignore them, you rebels!
Remember this, and show yourselves men, Turn [it] back, O transgressors, to the heart.
9 Think about the earlier things, those of times past, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me.
Remember former things of old, For I [am] Mighty, and there is none else, God—and there is none like Me.
10 I announce the end from the beginning, and beforehand what has not yet happened; I say, “My plan will happen, and I will do as I desire.”
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.
11 I call a bird of prey from the east, the man of my choice from a distant land; yes, I have spoken; I will also accomplish it; I have purposed, I will also do it.
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.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are far from doing what is right.
Listen to Me, you mighty in heart, Who are far from righteousness.
13 I am bringing my righteousness near; it is not far away, and my salvation does not wait; and I will give salvation to Zion and my beauty to Israel.
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!”
