Isaiah 46

1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavily loaded; they were a burden to the weary beast.

Bel has fallen, Nabo is broken to pieces, their graven images are gone to the wild beasts and the cattle: you take them packed up as a burden to the weary, exhausted, hungry, and [at the same time] helpless man;

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity.

who will not be able to save themselves from war, but they themselves are led [away] captive.

3 Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are borne by me from birth, who are carried from the womb:

Hear me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of Israel, who are borne [by me] from the womb, and taught [by me] from infancy, [even] to old age:

4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to gray hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

I am [he]; and until you shall have grown old, I am [he]: I bear you, I have made, and I will relieve, I will take up and save you.

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

To whom have you compared me? see, consider, you that go astray.

6 They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.

They that furnish gold out of a purse, and silver by weight, will weigh it in a scale, and they hire a goldsmith and make idols, and bow down, and worship them.

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 move: yea, one shall cry to him, yet he cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

They bear it upon the shoulder, and go; and if they put it upon its place, it remains, it can’t move: and whoever shall cry to it, it can’t hear; it can’t save him from trouble.

8 Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Remember you these things, and groan: repent, you that have gone astray, return in your heart;

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,

and remember the former things [that were] of old: for I am God, and there is none other beside me,

10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

telling beforehand the latter events before they come to pass, and they are accomplished together: and I said, all my counsel shall stand, and I will do all things that I have planned:

11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also perform it.

calling a bird from the east, and from a land afar off, for the things which I have planned: I have spoken, and brought [him]; I have created and made [him]; I have brought him, and prospered his way.

12 Hearken to me, ye stubborn in heart, that are far from righteousness:

Listen to me, you senseless ones, that are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not delay: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

I have brought near my righteousness, and I will not be slow with the salvation that is from me: I have given salvation in Sion to Israel for glory.